DAMMAM: Street vendors are enjoying brisk sales of winter garments as temperatures fall in the Eastern Province. Mittens, caps, socks, mufflers and sweaters are being sold for relatively low prices to mainly low-income expatriate workers. The vendors are being helped by the high prices of winter clothes in retail shops. In downtown Dammam, street vendors can be seen at busy shopping areas such as the Seiko Building. Abu Mustapha, a Saudi national, who has been engaged in street sales for many years, told Saudi Gazette that he has been getting many customers over the last few days. “Initially sales were slow because the temperature was not very low. But after the recent dust storm and showers, the temperature dipped considerably and there is a great demand for winter wear. Expat laborers who do not have a lot to spend on garments are my main customers and I sell them products ranging between SR5 and SR15,” he said. Street vendors who do business close to mosques have stopped selling fruit and vegetables and are now stocking winter wear. Imran, an Afghan national, who used to sell fruit at Dammam's King Fahd Mosque, said that he has now switched to selling winter clothes. “The sale of fruit has been very [poor] these days as demand is less due to the cold weather. So now I'm selling ear plugs, caps and sweaters. I have lots of good customers after every Salah,” he said. Women street vendors at Dammam's ladies market are also doing good business selling winter garments along with their usual items. The price of winter wear has increased by 40 percent in retail shops, forcing customers to depend on cheaper street vendors. The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has announced that the temperature will fall to near freezing levels in various parts of the Kingdom. The region has been experiencing bad weather since Jan. 1 when a heavy sandstorm hit certain areas. A north-westerly wind was blowing at 28 kilometers an hour and stirring up dust in the region, according to sources. Visibility was reduced to 500 meters causing difficulty for motorists especially on the highways. The poor weather has resulted in many people going to hospitals with respiratory problems. There were long queues at certain hospitals and at the offices of general medical practitioners. Most of the schools in the region have also cancelled their outdoor assemblies because of the sandstorms and cold weather. Some parts of the Eastern Province experienced rainfall Friday which lasted for about an hour, further dropping temperatures.
