Khartoum
Souq Arabi:
Located smack in the city centre, this is your classical chaotic market teaming with people. the market is divided in to several sections, each focussing on a certain product. there is even one block devoted to gold, although it certainly looks less sophisticated and organised than its counterpart in dubai. however, this souq is a bit lacking in term of handicrafts and fresh foodstuff. you are better off going to souq omdurman see below for handicrafts.
Afra Mall:
Located on africa road in the southern suburb of arkawet. afra is khartoum's and sudan's only mall but don't expect too much. afra is already starting to lose it new shininess - it is more like a small neighbourhood mall rather than those you would find in hong kong, singapore or dubai. it has a supermarket and retail outlets selling clothes and other things you would expect to find in a mall. you can find money changers and pre-paid mobile telephone kiosks too. afra mall is certainly not a must-see attraction, nor a place to head for a night out. 15â°33'33.57"n , 32â°33'17.90"e
Al-Amarat Centre:
For visitors this is probably your best bet for tracking down imported foodstuffs and household items. prices are high of course, but you are paying for convenience. 15â°35'6.89"n , 32â°32'39.63"e
Saad Gishra:
This is a covered market place, it is bahris main shopping market. prices here can be a little higher then those in souq omdurman however it is much more easily navigable for tourists.
Most shopping is still done in street markets or souqs. The souqs here are not as attractive those in other Middle Eastern countries but are still interesting enough for a glimpse of Sudanese economics. And you can certainly buy everything you need, including handicrafts if you are a tourist, from these markets. Prices are not amazingly low due to transport costs for imported mainly Chinese goods, but cheaper than in Afra Mall or proper shops. Upmarket, Khartoum has only one shopping mall with a supermarket, several shops and food outlets.
Souq Omdurman:
Very large sudanese market. most of the commodities are cheaper and vegetables and fruits are fresher than souq arabi. you can get handicrafts here. the handicraft street is quite difficult to find - its towards the northern end of the market, near the gold section not on the western side, at stated in the bradt guide. the street is actually a covered lane between two buildings with gates at either end. its not very busy in comparison with the rest of the market and they can lock up and go home in the evenings, and sometimes on fridays also. there are many local buses between souq arabi and here. bus fare are 1 sdg from here to souq arabi. the gps coordinates are somewhere near 15â°38'57.04"n , 32â°28'56.75"e.