Al Wakrah Heritage Village
A restored traditional village showcasing Qatar's fishing and pearling heritage with authentic architecture and cultural exhibits.
Al Wakrah Heritage Village / Souq Al Wakrah is a reconstructed traditional Qatari fishing village located in the coastal town of Al Wakrah, south of Doha. The project, completed in 2014, faithfully re-creates the town’s historic urban fabric, reflecting Qatar’s fishing and pearling heritage through its architecture and spatial design.
Built using traditional materials and techniques, the souq features narrow alleyways, shaded courtyards, and wind towers that illustrate how Qataris adapted to the desert climate. The layout preserves the intimate scale of a traditional village while promoting walkability along its coastal promenade.
Today, Souq Al Wakrah serves as a vibrant cultural and commercial hub with shops, cafés, and restaurants housed in restored courtyard buildings. It represents a modern re-creation of Qatar’s maritime heritage and a living example of how traditional morphology can shape the character of public spaces in contemporary urban life.
Sources
- Khan, A. H., Major, M. D., Tannous, H. O., & Paquet, T. (2021). Tradition, transformation, and re-creation in two marketplaces: Souq Al Wakrah and Souq Waqif, Qatar. Habitat International, 116, 102438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2021.102438