Rabat Medina Culture | Location | Times When Shops are Open | Different Sections | Tourist Goods | Things to Buy | History | Shopping Vocabulary | Gallery | Back to Transitions Page | Back to R.A.S.
Rabat Medina Culture
A medina is an old section of an Arab City. It has many stores and is where many people get everything that they need. The Rabat Medina is the most relaxed medina in Morocco. The main colors of the Rabat Medina are beige walls with dark red gates.
The Rabat medina is just across the Oude Bou Regrey River. It’s right outside theOudaïa Kasbah. The medina isn’t on just one road because it is so large.
Times When Shops are Open
The shops usually start opening around 9:00 a.m. Then the stores close from around noon until 3 to allow store owners to eat lunch. Then the stores reopen from 3:00 to 8:00.
Different Sections
There are many different sections of the medina. There is the tourist section, the frames section, clothing and shoes section, food section, and rugs section.
Tourist Goods
There is one section of the medina where tourists usually go.
Woodwork items
There are finely carved wooden boxes everywhere around the medina. They come in all shapes and sizes ranging from about 30 to 120 dirham. Some sculptures carved out of wood are also there. There are carvings of almost every animal including hippos, monkeys, and giraffes. Wooden dice are very popularly sold in wooden boxes. They are hand made so sometimes the dots are a little off on the dice. There are also drink coasters in holders that stand up, which can also be used for decoration. Wooden tissue boxes are also sold.
Silver items
Specially and carefully made silver tea pots are displayed to buy. There is also jewelry. Pure silver jewelry is very cheap in Morocco. A large pair of earrings can be bought for 60 dirham; about 30 per bangle; and around 30 to 40 for rings.
Leather items
There are round (like bean bags but much firmer) leather poof chairs for sale. These usually sell for 200 to 500 dirham a piece depending on size and quality. There are also leather jackets ranging from prices 700 to 800 dirham. The Moroccan dress leather shoes are also for sale ranging from 70 to 150 dirham.
Paintings and postcards
In the tourist part of the medina there are some paintings of keyhole doors, people, the desert, and camels. Many of these paintings are very beautiful. Postcards are also sold.
Clothing
In the medina there are many types of clothing sold. There is a section with modern clothes. These clothes are 
usually knock-offs of popular designer brands. The main two brands used are Diesel and Dolce and Gabbana.
Traditional clothing is also sold. Some of the women’s traditional clothing is Jabadors (a hooded over dress), Takshitas (embroidered formal Jalaba), Jalabas (button down overcoat dress), and Caftans (embroidered formal Jalaba). Some of the men’s traditional clothing is Jabadors (a hooded over dress), Jalabas (button down overcoat dress), and Kaftans (embroidered formal Jalaba). Fabric is also sold at the medina to make clothing, blankets, etc.
Electronics
Cameras, computer programs/games, and cell phones are all sold at the medina for low prices. Brands consist of Sony, LG, Nokia, and Samsung. You can buy all these products new for retail prices or used at negotiated discounted prices.
Shoes
All throughout the medina there are leather Moroccan slipper shoes everywhere. They are called babouches. Modern shoe replicas with brands such as Puma and Converse are also sold, usually in sizes up to the European size 39 or 40 or the American size 10. Any size beyond that is almost impossible to find inside the medina
Food
Many different spices are sold in the food section of the medina. There are also thousand whole pancakes (pancakes with lots of little holes on one side), dates, Shebakia (Ramadan sesame cookies), and Mlawi (layered crepe), sold during the Ramadan time.
Rugs
There are many rug souks throughout the medina. Rug store owners will usually ask their customer sit down in their store and watch their rug demonstration while drinking mint tea. All different types of rugs are displayed to the customers hoping they will like something they see. All the different sizes, styles, and designs of rugs are imported to the Rabat Medina from all over Morocco. Prices of rugs vary according to quality. Wool is the principle medium used. A small woven throw rug can be bought for 50 dollars where as a high quality thick wool rug will cost several thousand dollars.
Frames
There are places in the medina where pictures can be matted and framed. The price to frame a picture depends on how big the picture is and which frame is chosen. To frame without a mat usually costs anywhere from 50 to 100 dirham. Recently an 8 by 10 size photograph was nicely framed with a mat for 70 dirham.
History
The Rabat Medina dates back to the 17th century. It use to be the old city of Rabat until the city expanded. Now the only thing left of the old Rabat is the medina,
Shopping Vocabulary
How much – Combien
Souvenir shop – le magasin de souvenirs
Jeweller’s – la bijouterie
Butcher’s – le boucherie
Cake Shop – la pâtisserie
Sweet Shop – la confiserie
In the Shop
Opening hours – les heures d’ouverture
Open – ouvert
Closed - fermé
Sale (bargains) – les soldes
Provisions
sugar – le sucre
butter – le beurre
milk – le lait
eggs – les œufs
flour – la farine
bread – le pain
rice – le riz
tea – le thé
coffee – le café
Silver Items
Leather Items
Fabric
Shoes
Dish Store
