MAKKAH — After successfully completing the annual pilgrimage, many foreign Hajis visit the business city of Jeddah for shopping and purchasing souvenirs for their kith and kin back home. Businesses in the city expect 40% hike in their sales as a result of pilgrim purchases, mainly gold, jewelry, clothes, watches, rosaries and prayer mats. “Traders in the city are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hajis after the completion of the pilgrimage to rejuvenate the market,” said Saleh Salah, who works as a salesman in Souk Al-Alawi in Jeddah for the last 16 years. “Egyptians prefer to purchase various types of blankets made in China and Korea, with prices ranging between SR50 and SR220.” According to Salah, Asian pilgrims purchase rosaries and prayer mats to give as souvenirs to their loved ones back home. “There are different types of prayer mats made in Saudi Arabia and Turkey available for SR10 to SR45, depending on their quality.” He expected a 40 percent increase in sales during the Haj season. Mohammed Al-Dhahiry runs a shop in Souk Al-Alawi. He has arranged his goods in an attractive manner to woo customers, especially pilgrims. “For the last 16 years I am selling frankincense products and various types of perfumes in the market,” he told a reporter of Al-Madina Arabic daily. Al-Dhahiry said Tunisian and Yemeni pilgrims prefer to buy Somali frankincense products. “There are different types of such products in the market, which are available for different prices. Mushat is one of the best quality Somali frankincense and a piece of it is sold for SR400 while a kilogram for SR900. Mujarwal is another type, which is available for SR400 per kg,” he pointed out. Al-Madina reporter also visited Sharie Qabil, another popular market in Jeddah and found a jewelry shop salesman arranging his facility to win more customers, especially Hajis. Abdul Fattah Al-Shuaibi, supervisor of the shop, said a large number of Hajis visit the old market in Balad after pilgrimage, considering its history and heritage. He said African pilgrims, mainly Nigerians, Gabonese and those from Niger, as well as Hajis from Maghreb countries purchase gold and jewelry. He expected 50% percent increase in sales as a result of gold purchases of Hajis. Taher Al-Humairy, who has been selling watches and electronic products in Balad for the last 13 years, said: “Many pilgrims prefer to buy watches to give as gifts to their relatives and friends.” Sudanese and Somali pilgrims purchase classical clocks including those with adaan (call for prayer).” Souk Al-Jamie is another popular market in Jeddah that draws a large number of Hajis. Mahdi Al-Hutami, who sells textiles in the market for the last 10 years, said African pilgrims purchase clothes in large quantities in order to distribute among their relatives and friends as gifts. They prefer Korean and German clothes while Egyptians buy Japanese and Indian clothes.