Souq Al Zal

Souq Al Zal, set in the historic enclave of Diriyah, has been open since 1901, and its sprawling network of oud-scented alleys is as evocative as ever. The best time to come is at 6 p.m., when there are daily auctions of antiques, ceremonial swords and the geometric-patterned carpets the souq is named after. On Fridays, crowds cluster in the central plaza for the Haraj, the biggest auction of the week, when merchants auction their rarest and most precious goods, with visitors welcome to bid.