LocationsA Journey Inside Rabia Vegetable Market: A Market vibrant with Life
September 17, 2025
The sun rises over what was once just another patch of war-scarred earth in Rabia, Ninawa. But today, the dusty ground gives way to something extraordinary, the Rabia Vegetable Market, where more than 500 benefit from it.
Let’s begin our journey inside Rabia Vegetable Market.
At the entrance of Rabia Market, 27-year-old Naif Saleh Ahmed greets visitors with a broad, welcoming smile. “I’m Naif, the market guard,” he introduces himself. Though born with muscular atrophy that weakened his mobility, his determination remains unshaken. Without hesitation, he walks alongside us through the market, exchanging smiles and greetings with nearly every farmer—most of whom he has come to know since taking on his role as guard.
Naif remembers the horrific days when ISIL overran the area and life turned into chaos overnight. “There wasn’t enough food, and we had to flee. Life was neither safe nor stable,” he recalls. When the area was liberated, Naif returned to find his village in ruins, but he chose to take part in rebuilding. In 2022, he became the guard of Rabia Market—a role he continues to fulfill with quiet pride after its rehabilitation in 2024. Where rubble once lay, he now watches over a thriving hub of farmers and traders.
Today, the revitalized market is orderly, energetic, and a magnet for farmers from across the region. For Naif, it is much more than a workplace: “This market isn’t just a job. It’s proof that even after years of suffering, our community can rebuild and thrive.”
In another corner of the market, we meet 22-year-old Mahmoud Mohammed Shihab from Rabia, who now works as a porter. When ISIL overran his village, Mahmoud and his family were forced to flee to Badoush, escaping bombings and insecurity. But life there offered little relief. “Even in Badoush, there wasn’t enough food or work. Life was very hard,” he recalls.
Unable to endure the hardship, the family moved to a camp, surviving for months on humanitarian aid. Mahmoud remembers those days vividly: “In the camp, we depended on others for everything. We had no income, and the future was unknown.”
When the area was liberated in 2017, the family returned to Rabia—only to find it in ruins. “There was no work, no farming, no trade—nothing,” he says. In those early days, even the simplest jobs were scarce. Gradually, however, life began to return. Homes were rebuilt, shops reopened, and the market revived. Today, Mahmoud takes pride in having steady work to support his family. Despite the hardships he has endured, he carries a quiet optimism: the belief that the future will be better.
Fares Sharif, 25, recalls when the market was nothing more than an empty stretch of land. “There was nothing here,” he says. “No market, no work, no life. It felt like the future was gone.”
Like many others, Fares left for Mosul in search of safety and work, but opportunities there were scarce as well.
Today, standing amid the bustle of Rabia Market, he sees a different picture. Families once displaced now make their living here, and the market has become a center of activity and hope. Despite ongoing challenges—especially the lack of enough job opportunities for all residents—Fares remains optimistic.
Still a student, he believes the answer lies in patience and perseverance. “Even with difficulties, the future will be better,” he says with quiet conviction.
Naseer Abdul Mohsen, a merchant from the southern provinces, expresses his happiness about the reopening of Rabia Market. He recalls the days under ISIL control: “When ISIL took over, it was impossible to come here. Trips to buy fruits and vegetables became dangerous, and we had to settle for lower-quality, more expensive options. That was one of the hardest times we lived through.”
Now, with paved roads, shaded areas, and modern facilities, the market has become a bustling center of trade. After its reconstruction, it boasts proper stalls, a restaurant for merchants and workers, clean bathrooms, and all the essentials. Most importantly, it offers fresh, high-quality produce at fair prices. “We can now buy top-quality goods at good prices and sell them in Baghdad for a profit,” Naseer explains.
Merchants from the southern provinces increasingly prefer Rabia Market, where they can purchase large quantities of quality products at reasonable prices. For many, it has become not only profitable but also safer and more comfortable than in the past.
Waving goodbye, Naseer adds: “Thanks to everyone who helped rebuild this market. It’s no longer just a place to buy and sell fruits and vegetables—it’s a source of livelihood for many of us.” He hopes these services will continue and expand in the future.
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme’s Building Resilience through Employment Promotion (BREP) programme, with generous funding from the German government through KfW Development Bank, the Rabia vegetable market has been fully rehabilitated. Today, it stands as a vibrant commercial hub serving more than 500 people from Rabia and the surrounding areas. Equipped with essential services—paved roads, organized display platforms, and modern facilities—the market is a living testament to the impact of reconstruction efforts and their role in revitalizing the local economy.