Bidding wars at Saudi Arabia’s raucous open-air market — in pictures

Saudi men haggle. The market is far from the upscale malls and designer boutiques found in other parts of the capital, where arguing over the price would be considered un-chic.

Misfer Al Qahtani, a 70 year-old retired National Guard officer wears his traditional Saudi dagger.

Inside the market’s twists and turns, Yemeni and Saudi merchants smile to visitors, eager to sell the fragrant incense that burns outside their stalls and fills the air with a strong musk.

One man came with a suitcase full of beaded jewellery and sold the whole bag to an auction winner, who had just a few moments to inspect its contents before buying.

Souvenir swords that sell as decorative pieces can go for more than 40 Saudi riyals (Dh40) in one of the market’s stalls, but at the auction 10 or more together sells for 100 riyals.

A group of elderly Saudi women have their own corner in the market where they sell cotton dresses worn by women around the house. Dusty metal jewellery sits in piles inside woven baskets for buyers to rummage through, most of it made in Pakistan.

Dusty metal jewellery sits in piles inside woven baskets for buyers to rummage through and then bid.

Mr Al Qahtani chats with friends.

The Al Aqeeliya market in Riyadh is far from the upscale malls and designer boutiques found in the capital, where arguing over the price would be considered un-chic. Photos by Hasan Jamali / AP Photo