Weekly Kut bazaar draws growing crowds, supports women-led and local businesses

WASIT — For the second month in a row, a weekly open-air bazaar in central Kut has continued to grow, attracting hundreds of vendors and visitors every Friday along the Corniche in Dor Al-Mualimeen Street. Once a modest community initiative, the market has quickly become a fixture in the city, featuring handmade crafts, books, clothing, food, and small business ventures.

“The bazaar overlooks the Corniche and is in a car-free, family-friendly space, which makes it very comfortable and draws large gatherings,” organizer Rania Ouda told 964media. “Choosing Friday, the weekend, played a big role in helping us keep it going.”

Initially launched with just 12 tables and about 50 participants, the market now hosts more than 50 tables and over 250 vendors, according to organizers — a sign of increasing public interest and entrepreneurial participation.

Ali Hussein Youssef, another organizer, said the location and timing were chosen to align with family outings. “We chose this place because of the large presence of Wasit families every Friday,” he said. “We also selected the timing — from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. — to coincide with peak family hours. We started with about 50 participants, and now we’re over 250. We’re looking to grow even more.”

The bazaar has also helped promote women-led projects like Fatima’s photo printing service. “My project is a simple online page for photo printing managed by a female team,” she said. “I wanted to provide a safe service for women. We’ve received support and encouragement from people, and being part of the bazaar has increased our followers and profits.”