‘Souq Al-Zal’… A Saudi Shopping Destination with Historic Twist

Saudi Arabian city view with the Kingdom Tower, background, and 'Al-Faislia Tower' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Saudi Arabian city view with the Kingdom Tower, background, and 'Al-Faislia Tower' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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‘Souq Al-Zal’… A Saudi Shopping Destination with Historic Twist

Saudi Arabian city view with the Kingdom Tower, background, and 'Al-Faislia Tower' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Saudi Arabian city view with the Kingdom Tower, background, and 'Al-Faislia Tower' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Shoppers can travel back in time in Souq Al Zal’s corridors featuring details that tell endless tales inspired by a rich history and generations of merchants who worked there over the past 120 years. The Souq is located in the Saudi capital, near the ruling palace.

Established in 1319 AH (1901 AD), Souq Al Zal in Riyadh draws a real image of the Saudi heritage. It’s surrounded by the Masmak Fort, Al Thumairi Street, and the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque.

This Souq is like no other in the Saudi capital; it has become the largest complex of shops selling menswear, popular accessories, carpets, antiquities, shoes, incense, and all kinds of oriental perfumes. It also features a separate auction space dedicated for old goods sales.

The Souq sees a higher turnout during Ramadan, as people visit it looking for decorations inspired by the holy month and Eid al-Fitr, knowing they can find all what they want including garments, accessories, perfumes, oud, and incense.

Although it looks so simple and modest, the Souq boasts unique and historic buildings that have maintained their original design. There, shoppers enjoy a special experience that takes them back to the past to learn more about their ancestors.

The Souq gathers people from all social classes coming to shop goods that they might not find elsewhere.

Abu Ahmed, an incense merchant in Souq Al Zal, says the turnout in Ramadan has remarkably increased, as many shoppers come looking for decorations for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Visitor Abdullah al-Otaybi says he has come to this Souq since he was a child, noting it’s his favorite place to return to the past and explore the details of the old Saudi lifestyle, and to buy his needs, especially before Eid al-Fitr.



Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Dozens of US ice cream producers are planning to remove artificial colors from their products by 2028, a dairy industry group and government officials said on Monday.

The producers, which together represent more than 90% of ice cream sold in the US, are the latest food companies to take voluntary steps to remove dyes since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April said the US aimed to phase out many synthetic dyes from the country's food supply.

Several major food manufacturers, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, J.M. Smucker, Hershey and Nestle USA, have previously announced their plans to phase out synthetic food coloring.

The 40 ice cream companies will remove Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their retail products, excluding non-dairy products, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

The IDFA announced the plan at an event at the US Department of Agriculture headquarters on Monday with Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

"We know that our current health outcomes, especially for our children, are unsustainable and that American agriculture is at the heart of the solution to make America healthy again," Rollins said at the event, referencing a slogan aligned with Kennedy.

Rollins and Kennedy have worked closely together on food sector efforts like encouraging states to ban soda from the nation's largest food aid program.

Kennedy has blamed food dyes for rising rates of ADHD and cancer, an area many scientists say requires more research.

The IDFA said artificial dyes are safe, but that ice cream makers are taking the step in part to avoid disruption to sales from state efforts to phase out dyes from school foods and West Virginia's recent food dye ban.