Pilgrims revitalize souvenir and merchandise sector in Madinah

Hussain Abu Khalid, a seller, said most pilgrims shop in the central area where all the shopping centers are located.

“Every culture has a different consumerism attached to it. Pilgrims value different merchandises as some buy textiles and others are interested in ready-made clothes. Some buy accessories and jewelry pieces and others buy rosaries. Some buy toys for children and others buy dates,” said Abu Khalid.

He added most of the buyers are usually Arab and Indian pilgrims.

Ahmad Khan and Khalid Zakariyah, both pilgrims, said they like to buy prayer mats from Madinah and rosaries, postcards and prayer cloths for women in their family.

Ahmad Saad and Al-Haj Saeed said they like to buy rosaries, miswaks and gifts for children.

Mohammad Faris and Mohammad Mirsawi, pilgrims, said their families wait with bated breath for the gifts they bring from Makkah and Madinah.

“They value the gifts more because of where they came from even if the gift itself was insignificant. We try to buy from every type of product so we have a variety of gifts when we go back to our family,” said Faris.

Abdo Saeed, dates seller, said pilgrims love a variety of dates when they buy them.

“Ajwat Al-Madinah is the most popular kind of date. There is also Al-Safri, Al-Saqi, and the kind with various items stufed inside. The price of dates varies. It starts from SR50 per kg to SR120 per kg. Most of the pilgrims that buy dates are Indians and Indonesians,” said Saeed.