On the site of Abu Dhabi’s old central market, destroyed by fire in 2003, the World Trade Center Souk offers a contemporary take on the traditional souq. Designed by British architect Norman Foster, its narrow corridors are lined with dark timber latticework and stained-glass panels, while rooftop perforations filter sunlight into shifting geometric patterns across the tiled floors.
Give yourself 45 minutes to an hour to wander. The layout encourages slow browsing, with small boutiques selling everything from frankincense and embroidered pashminas to jewelry, carpets and colorful jalabiyas (traditional kaftans worn in the Gulf). It's less chaotic than older souqs and more curated than a mall – a good middle ground that makes it an easy stop for souvenir shopping in air-conditioned comfort. Public squares and atriums provide places to pause and people watch, and a bridge connects directly to the neighboring World Trade Center Mall if you want to continue shopping. The souq is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
