© Mark Lowey. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Even before arriving in Saudi Arabia as a 22-year-old engineer on my first assignment, I was captivated by the ancient oasis town of Hofuf. It is mentioned in the Bible, and I had read that the old market hadn’t changed much for millennia, so it was one of the places I looked forward to visiting in the Middle East.
Picturesque Hofuf in 1978.
The author browsing the market stalls in Hofuf.
Ibrahim Palace in the Al Koot district.
In 1978 and 1979, I lived in Abqaiq and worked on Aramco construction sites for a US contractor. During that period, I visited Hofuf seven times. On our one day off work, Fridays, different friends would accompany me on forays in the Eastern Province in a borrowed company pick-up truck without air conditioning. We brought our new cameras and a young man’s sense of adventure.
An hour’s drive south of Abqaiq was the oasis of Al Ahsa, with its vast groves of date palms, bisected by narrow roads. A short distance from Hofuf’s crowded streets, it provided shady picnic spots and an irresistible opportunity for a quick swim in the cool clear waters of its irrigation canals. A bit farther, Jebel Qarah, with its silent caverns and steep, dusty trails rewarded climbers with spectacular vistas in all directions.
Photos from 1978:
Donkey cart transport in the Al Ahsa Oasis.
Fresh water irrigation canal.
The view from Jebel Qara.
Young women arrive by taxi to visit Jebel Qara.
Coming from suburban California, I found Hofuf to be an eye-opening experience. I would wander and lose my way in the labyrinth of narrow alleys of the old Qaisariah Souq. The same old silversmith greeted me on several visits. I would sift through his bucket full of what appeared to be ancient silver ornaments, pendants, rings and bracelets. On one occasion, I purchased a triangular, Bedouin-style pendant mounted with a large red, semi-precious stone and a row of small silver balls on short chains dangling from the bottom. The price after vigorous bargaining: SR 90.
Hofuf’s famous Qaisariah Souq in 1978.
Bedouin pendant purchased from the old silversmith in Qaisariah Souq, 1978
Around the corner, we chanced upon other parts of the souq neighborhood including fruit vendors and the women’s market with its handmade baskets, fans and weavings.
Shops near Qaisariah Souq, 1978
Hofuf watermelon vendor in 1978
Hofuf, 1978 - a man carries his purchases from Qaisariah Souq
Hofuf women's market, 1978
On the nearby streets of the Al Koot district between the souq and Ibrahim Palace, we encountered locals who were as interested in us as we were in them. I smiled and said, “Asalaamu Aleikum” to a group of three young boys and motioned for them to pose for a photograph. They agreed, but suddenly a fourth boy pushed his way in, determined to join the fun. The boys proudly showed me that they had inserted pins through the surface skin of their fingertips, careful not to penetrate too deeply. Perhaps, it was a rite of passage for them.
Friendly locals in Al Koot district in 1978.
Local boys in Al Koot district, 1978
When I returned to Saudi Arabia and visited the Qaisariah Souq in 2016, I discovered that the souq had been rebuilt after a devastating fire and restored to its previous splendor. Strolling through the alleyways, my family and I shopped for antiques, gold and spices, including frankincense, myrrh and saffron. We relaxed in a traditional coffee shop and snacked on warm chickpeas in oil and sipped sweet tea. How pleasing it was to see that, nestled within the sprawl of a modern, bustling city, this memorable place of my youth remains the heart and soul of Hofuf.
Today the renovated Qaisariah Souq retains its traditional beauty and charm.
Qaisariah Souq, modern day
Qaisariah Souq, modern day, chickpeas and sweet tea snack
About the Author
Mark Lowey (Abu Jack): California-born and raised, Mark earned a degree in Construction Management and embarked on a career that started in Saudi Arabia and continued around the world. By luck or fate, his final project before retirement took him back to Saudi Arabia.
A self-taught amateur photographer, Mark documented his early days in Saudi while living in Abqaiq and working in the vast oil fields of the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
Mark and his wife are now retired and have returned to California.
Twitter: @molowey
Facebook: @bedouinconnection
Email: moloworking1@gmail.com
Read more by Mark Lowey: Bedouin Connection Chapter I – My First Days in Saudi Arabia