DAMMAM: Many supermarkets and large malls across the Kingdom have announced discounted rates on basic commodities to welcome the arrival of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The announcement of discounts was made through text messages to consumers who received the messages as early as last Tuesday. Flyers were also distributed in the Eastern Province. One such SMS message was sent by Farm Superstores, which has 35 outlets throughout the Kingdom. The message said that “celebrating the safe return of His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, a 25 percent discount on all household items will be offered until March 1”. “We are happy that King Abdullah has arrived safely; the offer of discounts for all our range of household items is our way of expressing our goodwill and support to the King and at the same time our way of easing the burden on the consuming public,” Syed Salim, general manager of Farm 9 in Al-Khobar. told Saudi Gazette. Lulu Hypermarket in Al-Khobar kicked off a Saudi agricultural products festival Wednesday announcing that it is giving a 50 percent discount on all fruits and vegetables produced in the Kingdom until March 4. “This is a gesture to welcome the safe return of the King, and it is also a way of patronizing the agricultural products of Saudi Arabia,” K. Hashim, general manager of Lulu Hypermarket in Al Khobar, said. Sameer Al-Rushaid, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Eastern Province, and other ministry officials patronized the launching of the 50 percent discount of Saudi agriculture products. The announcement of discounts on basic products and consumer items was well received by citizens and the expatriate communities. “Citizens are happy that the King has arrived home safely; and we urge commercial establishments, such as supermarkets, to lower their prices permanently because life has indeed now become difficult for consumers,” Ahmad Ibrahim, a Saudi father of five, said.
