Jeddah: Gold shopping is popular among Hajj pilgrims looking for souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home.
Several gold shops outside the Grand Mosques of Mecca and Madinah, as well as the gold souk of Jeddah, are adorned with trendy necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings, attracting pilgrims to buy precious metals. increase.
Mohammed Norman, an Indian pilgrim who came to Jeddah from Mecca to buy gold, said, “The design is unique, pure gold, not usually available in the country. Hajj is expensive, but that’s why we It doesn’t stop me from buying gold, and I think the price is reasonable.”
The gold shops in Mecca and Madinah and the gold souk in Jeddah are popular spots for pilgrims looking for souvenirs and gifts. (attached)
“Buying gold has become a fashionable tradition among pilgrims, so the recent volatility in gold prices has not had a major impact on their business,” said Jeddah trader Hafeez Khan. .
“For most Asian pilgrims, buying gold is considered an investment because most of them consider gold jewelry to be cheaper and of better quality (here). We expect sales to skyrocket.”
Gold is better than buying fabrics and other souvenirs. A ring and a Kaaba pendant were purchased for her wife, who was unable to accompany her on the Hajj. I think this is the best gift you can buy for her.
Abdelrahman Hydri egyptian pilgrims
Another trader, Abdullah Arbah, who has worked at a Mecca gold shop for almost 12 years, said, “Sales are usually high during the Hajj season as they offer exclusive sales and discounts to attract more customers. It will be higher,” he said.
Sales of small items weighing between 3 and 5 grams have doubled due to discounts, he said.
Traders say the price of SR216 ($57.60) is 21 carat gold per gram and SR227 is 22 carat gold, probably the same during the Hajj.
The gold shops in Mecca and Madinah and the gold souk in Jeddah are popular spots for pilgrims looking for souvenirs and gifts. (attached)
“Gold sold in Saudi Arabia is pure and has not been corrupted or tampered with. Weight and manufacturing details are accurate and most importantly purchased from the Holy Land,” said the first-time Hajj. said Farooq Ali, a Pakistani pilgrim who visited and bought three gold sets for his wife and daughter.
Gold purchases were not mandatory for Ali, but since this is his first sacred visit, he hopes to acquire something more memorable that will serve as a reminder of their sacred journey for years to come. was He also bought some rings for relatives in his hometown.
Other popular gifts and souvenirs for pilgrims include nuts, sweets, children’s toys, prayer mats and beads, different types of dates, and decorative zamzam water sets.
“I’d rather have money than buy fabrics and other souvenirs,” said Abdelrahman Hydri from Egypt. “I bought her ring and Kaaba pendant for my wife who couldn’t accompany me on the pilgrimage to Mecca. I think this is the best gift for her.”
