Gallery
Description
Property Name: Souq Okaz
Inventory No: –
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2020
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province: Makkah
Town: Taif
Geographic coordinates: 21°28’23.51″N 40°38’43.05″E
Historic Period: 8th Century
Year of Construction: 747
Style: Pre-Islamic
Original Use: Marketplace
Current Use: Museum
Architect: Unknown
Significance
In the Pre-Islamic period, Souq Okaz, a large stretch of empty land lying East of Taif, was used as a trade exhibition hall and social forum. The market lasted for over two centuries, most likely starting 70 years before the Hijra, continuing till 129 AH (747 AD). Work was carried out on the site in 1428 AH (2007 AD) under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, and constant monitoring is undertaken by the Amir of Makkah, HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal.
Selection Criteria
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
State of Preservation
Well preserved
References
Commission of Tourism and Heritage