The central market of Arlit is where the town's cross-cultural character is most visible. Tuareg traders from the north, Hausa merchants from the south, and workers from the mining operations all converge here. You will find silver jewellery, leather goods, dried dates, millet, and an array of goods trucked in from both Niger and Algeria. The silver work can be particularly good — the Tuareg tradition of silversmithing is strong in this region, and prices are more reasonable than in tourist centres further south.
The market is also the place to pick up essential supplies before a Sahara crossing: water, tinned food, diesel jerricans. It is busiest in the morning. Watch your valuables — the market attracts the same opportunists as any transport hub in West Africa.