Pekan Rabu

Pekan Rabu is a well-known traditional market and shopping complex in Alor Setar, Kota Setar District, Kedah, Malaysia. Located on Jalan Putra in the city centre, it originated as a weekly Wednesday bazaar and now operates as a multi-storey indoor market. It is notable for offering a wide range of Kedah and Malay traditional products, handicrafts, textiles, and local snacks, serving as a cultural shopping destination for visitors to Alor Setar.

Visitors can expect a multi-storey air-conditioned indoor market complex with numerous stalls arranged along corridors. The setting is an urban shopping building in central Alor Setar. Inside, stalls sell traditional Malay apparel such as baju kurung and songket, batik, handicrafts, souvenirs, and local food products like dodol, kuih, and belacan. Visitors can walk through levels exploring retail shops, food stalls, and souvenir vendors in a busy local market environment.

Pekan Rabu originated as a weekly market held on Wednesdays in the early 1930s in Alor Setar, where rural traders gathered to sell local produce and handicrafts. The name Pekan Rabu literally means Wednesday Market. It was later developed into a permanent market complex, with the current Kompleks Pekan Rabu building on Jalan Putra established in the 1970s to house the traders in a modern indoor facility.

Pekan Rabu is a cultural shopping landmark for Kedah, showcasing Malay traditional crafts, textiles, and cuisine. It serves as a centre for local cottage industries and preserves traditional products such as songket, batik, and Kedah specialty foods, reflecting the heritage and daily commercial culture of Alor Setar.