Arab Quarter, Singapore - Victoria Street Wholesale Centre

The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre is not part or in the Arab Quarter, but then again is just next door to the Quarter and nearby the Singapore-Johor Bahru Express (Bus) Terminal. I happen to be here, and after all these local wholesale markets are becoming a dying breed in modern Singapore.

The Wholesale Centre is occupied by small Chinese businesses selling dried foodstuffs and ingredients often used in Chinese cooking. On sale were varieties of dried and salted fish, prawns and anchovies. Just passing the shops, I could smell the strong pungent smell of the dried seafood.

Victoria Street Wholesale Centre

Wholesale Centre from across Victoria Street

Inside the Wholesale Centre

Shopkeeper at the Wholesale Centre

Arab Quarter, Singapore - Scenes in the Arab Quarter

The Arab Quarter in Singapore squats in an area at the intersection of Arab Street and Northbridge Road. It is also known as the 'Arab-Malay Quarter' or 'Kampong Glam'. Through intermarriages, the quarter is a mix of Arab and Malay cultures but the Malay identity seems dominates.

The Arab Quarter is a breath of fresh air from modern day Singapore and seems to be lost in time. A major landmark is the Sultan Mosque, constructed in 1928 and gazetted as a national monument. I enjoy taking a short walk around the quarter passing the old shophouses and narrow backstreets.

Sultan Mosque by Erwin Soo

Penang Street

Muscat Street

Arab Street

Old shophouses by Terence Ong

Arab Quarter, Singapore - Home of the Arab-Malay Community

The history of the Arab Quarter goes back before the British colonised Singapore, when it was the home of the Malay aristocracy. When the British colonised Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles agreed with the Sultan of Johor in 1819 to establish the area for his aristocracy as well as a settlement for the Malay and Arab community on the island.

Arab traders eventually settled in droves and today many of the roads in the Arab Quarter have Arab names such as Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Muscat Street. However, don't expect to find Arabs in 'bedsheets' here in modern day Singapore. Over the centuries, many of the Arabs intermarried with the Malays and the area today is also known as Kampong Glam.

Arab Street

Sultan Mosque in the Arab Quarter

Istana (Palace) Kampong Glam by Smuconlaw

Backstreet in the Arab Quarter by Terence Ong