The story
Souk Okaz in Taif
Souk Okaz is the modern revival of an ancient pre-Islamic trading and poetry market once held annually near Taif, historically famous as a gathering point for Arabian poets, orators, and tribes. Relaunched in 2007, the festival recreates the atmosphere of the original souk with poetry competitions, traditional crafts, and heritage performances.
In the centuries before Islam, tribes across the Arabian Peninsula observed a set of sacred months during which fighting was traditionally forbidden, creating a narrow annual window when rival groups could gather safely for trade, arbitration, and cultural exchange.