Sustainable development in The Old Wukrah Souq (Qatar) as a Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.3100Keywords:
Heritage, Traditional Markets, Sustainable Development, Architectural, EconomicAbstract
This research aims to explore the relationship between preserving the architectural heritage of traditional markets and their role in fostering sustainable economic development, with a focus on the Old Wukrah Souq in Qatar as a case study. The study presents the historical and architectural characteristics of the market, analyzing the challenges it faces amid urban modernization and economic shifts. An analytical-descriptive methodology, combining literature review and field data collection, is employed to identify factors influencing heritage preservation and economic sustainability. Preliminary findings underscore the importance of adopting comprehensive strategies that include urban planning policies and regulatory frameworks supporting heritage conservation, thereby revitalizing commercial and tourism activities. The research further illustrates how traditional markets can be transformed into cultural and economic hubs that enrich community experience and reinforce national identity. Based on these insights, the study offers practical recommendations for stakeholders to effectively preserve this cultural asset and integrate its historical dimensions into future development plans.
References
[1] Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. Random House.
[2] UNESCO. (2016). Culture: Urban future: Global report on culture for sustainable urban development. UNESCO Publishing.
[3] Serageldin, I. (2005). Historic cities and sacred sites: Cultural roots for urban futures. World Bank Publications.
[4] Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste. Harvard University Press.
[5] Ministry of Municipality. (2022). Al Wakra city development strategy. [Government of Qatar Website]. https://www.mme.gov.qa
[6] Chase, T. (2016). The transformation of Doha’s urban heritage: The restoration of Souq Al Wakra. Built Environment, 42(2), 301–315.
[7] Qatar National Tourism Council. (2021). Heritage site development guide. https://www.visitqatar.qa
[8] Ministry of Culture and Sports. (2019). Qatari antiquities and heritage buildings law. Ministry of Culture and Sports.
[9] Al-Banna, W. A.-J. M. (2019). Towards a strategy to activate the role of human factors in reviving the spaces of heritage markets: The markets of Old Sana'a as a case study.
[10] Qatar National Tourism Council. (2021). Qatar’s tourism strategy 2030. https://www.visitqatar.qa
[11] World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford University Press.
[12] Qatar National Tourism Council. (2022). Heritage site development guide. https://www.visitqatar.qa
[13] Ministry of Culture and Sports. (2021). Urban heritage in Qatar: Documentation and analysis. Ministry of Culture and Sports.
[14] Ministry of Commerce and Industry. (2020). Enhancing traditional markets’ competitiveness. https://www.moci.gov.qa
[15] Al-Kaabi, K. (2021). Traditional markets and tourism development in the Arabian Gulf. Ibn Al-Nadim Publishing House.
[16] World Bank. (2019). Culture in city reconstruction and recovery. World Bank.
[17] Qatar Museums. (2020). Qatar’s cultural sites: Safeguarding our heritage. https://www.qm.org.qa
[18] UNESCO. (1972). Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO.
[19] ICOMOS. (1964). International charter for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites (The Venice Charter).
[20] UNESCO. (1994). The Nara document on authenticity. UNESCO.
[21] Al-Naemi, A. (2021). Urban regeneration of historical markets in Qatar. Qatar University Press.
[22] UNESCO. (2021). Medina of Marrakech: Sustainable conservation. UNESCO Publishing.
[23] Ali, M. (2020). Cross-sector collaboration in heritage preservation: The Qatar experience. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management, 5(2), 50–62.
[24] ICOMOS. (2019). Conserving cultural heritage in urban environments. [ICOMOS Publications].
[25] Al-Manshawi, M. (2020). Experiences of urban preservation in heritage markets in Arab cities. Scientific Books House.
[26] Ahmed, A. F. M. (2015). Rehabilitation of heritage markets: An analytical study with special reference to covered commercial markets with passages: Bab Al-Luq market as a case study.
[27] Abdul-Latif, A. E.-D. O. (2020). Popular markets and their role in increasing tourism movement in Egypt with application to Al-Ghouriya tourist market.
[28] Al-Rfouh, F. O., & Al-Majali, S. A. M. (2020). Geo-economics of India’s interests in the Arabian Gulf region. Jordanian Journal of Law and Political Science, 12(4).
[29] Hashim, S. (2006). Heritage popular markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council States and the Arabian Peninsula and their economic and social importance.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
