JD Lock

Gold Souq II

(Batha - Manila Plaza) 

سوق الذهب 

Another Riyadh 'Gold Souq' of reknown is located in "Manila Plaza Al-Batha."

 

Batha (Manila Plaza - named after the Philippines’ capital) is located in central Riyadh and is home to many expatriates coming from India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Philippines, Bangladesh and other Asia countries.

 

Batha has a large gold souq that is famous for 24K gold bars that are cheaper than any other gold souq in Riyadh.

 

Apart from the gold souk, Manila Plaza also houses other stores offering cellphones, apparel and, as you'll note below, travel luggage.

 

PHOTOs of Interest:

 

9 - 12: Luggage

     

     When bartering for the best prices, always best to offer two sales vs. one.

 

24 - 39: Gold Souq

     

     Unlike the Thumairi Gold Souq with its indoore stalls, the Batha Gold Souq has its stores street side.

 

33 - 34/37 - 39: Gold Souq Shabkas

     

     The term ‘dowry’ (maher) is defined as the transfer of parental property to the daughter at the time of her marriage.  In many countries, such dowries are provided by the bride’s family to the groom’s.  In Arab countries, however, it’s the groom’s family that provides a dowry to the bride’s. 

     One expected component of this dowry is jewelry…in particular, a shabka which is a gold or diamond necklace and bracelet given to the bride as a gift and that, at gold prices of approximately $1,200 per ounce, range from $15,000 to $30,000.

     Shown here are a few such shabkas.