Shopping · Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
Shopping in Riyadh
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hamza A. Durrani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Riyadh shopping ranges from large air-conditioned malls with international brands to traditional souqs for oud, incense, gold and antiques around the Masmak Fortress. Best souvenirs: Dates, Oud and bakhoor and Dallah coffee pot.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Dates
Where to shop
Olaya malls
Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah malls on Olaya Street hold international fashion and luxury brands.
Northern malls
Large malls such as Riyadh Park and Al Nakheel Mall in the north combine shopping, cinemas and food courts.
Tahlia Street
Boutiques, Saudi fashion labels and perfume shops along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road.
Deira souqs
Gold, perfume and textile shops in the old centre around Al Adl Square and the Masmak Fortress.
Markets
Souq Al Zal
The oldest market in the city, known for carpets, antiques, incense burners and bisht cloaks.
Riyadh Camel Market
A working livestock market on the eastern outskirts, interesting to visit rather than to shop.
What to buy
Dates
Boxed Sukkari and Ajwa dates from specialist date shops, some stuffed with nuts or coated in chocolate.
Oud and bakhoor
Agarwood oil, perfumes and incense chips sold in souqs and perfume houses.
Dallah coffee pot
The beaked Arabian coffee pot, sold in brass or decorative versions, with cardamom coffee blends.
Sadu weaving
Bedouin geometric weaving in red, black and white, sold as cushions, bags and wall hangings.
Incense burner (mabkhara)
Carved wooden or metal burners used to scent homes with bakhoor.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Deira and Al Batha
Souq Al Zal
Riyadh's oldest market, a few minutes' walk from the Masmak Fortress, sells carpets, antique coffee pots, swords, incense burners, oud and bakhoor incense, and the bisht cloaks worn by Saudi men on formal occasions.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
Street · Al Sulimaniyah
Tahlia Street
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, still widely called Tahlia Street, is lined with specialty coffee shops, restaurants, fashion boutiques and dessert shops.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
Market · Eastern outskirts
Riyadh Camel Market
On the city's eastern outskirts, traders buy and sell camels, sheep and goats in a large open-air livestock market, with feed sellers and stalls of camel gear around it.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
- Kids
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Saudi coffee, Dates and Kleija. Offered in hotels, majlis-style cafés and at heritage sites such as At-Turaif; coffee shops also sell it by the flask. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Al Olaya | $$$ | Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road |
| Al Sulimaniyah | $$$ | Cafés, restaurants and shopping around Tahlia Street |
| Deira and Al Batha | $ | Old souqs, the Masmak Fortress and the historic core |
| Ad Diriyah | $$$$ | Mudbrick heritage, Wadi Hanifa palm groves and boutique hotels |
| King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) | $$$$ | Glass towers, landscaped walkways and a Zaha Hadid metro station |
| Hittin and Al Malqa | $$$ | Newer northern suburbs with restaurant strips and Boulevard City |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in SAR. Tipping is not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is appreciated where no service charge is added, and small tips for hotel porters and drivers are common.
- Some shops and services may pause briefly around prayer times; plan errands with this in mind.
- Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, so you need little cash.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in June–August; the busiest months are December.
- October: Riyadh International Book Fair (usually autumn)
- December: MDLBEAST Soundstorm — large electronic music festival (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Al Olaya
Business towers, malls and hotels along Olaya Street and King Fahd Road
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Riyadh?
Dates, Oud and bakhoor, Dallah coffee pot and Sadu weaving.
+Where is the best shopping in Riyadh?
Olaya malls: Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah malls on Olaya Street hold international fashion and luxury brands.
+What are the best markets in Riyadh?
Souq Al Zal and Riyadh Camel Market.