N°1 for American pilgrims
         
1-646-233-1517
cost of local call
Get quotation by email
Discover our cheapest Umrah packages
Umrah 2011
THE HAJJ STORE
GO-Makkah's Price
13,99 €
Transport
All the private cars are taxis and they are less expensive than taxis and practical. They take you to all your destinations, 2 or 3 SAR (equivalent of 50 cents of 1 Euro)

Find the suitable offer
Umrah Hajj
Departure from
Check-out
Budget
Distance to Haram
Distance to Masjid Nabawi
Weather forecast in Medina
Now
42°C
Tomorrow
43°C
Weather forecast in Mecca
Now
45°C
Tomorrow
46°C
Prayer Times
Mecca
Medina
The Hajj School
by , GO-Makakh Press, GO-Makakh News 25.03.11
    
<< Back
Retailers in Makkah rail at street vendor threat
Published in 25.03.11

 

MAKKAH: Street vendors, mainly illegal foreign women, pose a serious threat to retail outlets in the holy city of Makkah.
Selling low quality products at cheaper rates by these vendors has turned out to be a big setback for shop owners who claim that they incur losses amounting to millions of riyals as a result. Many shop owners complain that the concerned authorities have not taken adequate measures and fail to carry out effective periodic inspections to put an end to this illegal practice.
On a tour to a popular commercial market in Aziziya district, Arab News noticed a huge presence of street vendors, some of them even blocking entrance to shops in the area. Muhammad Ali, an elderly shop owner, said that the area has been bustling with street vendors for a long time.
“They are mainly non-Arab African women and migrants from erstwhile Burma, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Most of them are violators of residence regulations. Earlier, these vendors used to concentrate on the central area of the city surrounding the Grand Mosque to take advantage of the huge presence of pilgrims, especially during the peak Haj and Umrah seasons,” he said.
However, a large number of them had to leave the Grand Mosque area due to ongoing construction projects in that part of the city, said Ali.
He added that many others were forced out after inspectors combating undesirable practices intensified raids in the area. “Subsequently, these vendors moved to other localities in pursuit of their thriving trade. They are now largely visible at most commercial markets in other parts of the holy city, especially in Aziziya. These illegal traders squat in front of major commercial showrooms and retail outlets and display their products for sale. They lure a major segment of customers coming to our shops,” he said, while noting that most shops incur losses due to this growing phenomenon.
Qassim Hussein, another shop owner, told Arab News that he has to pay an annual rent of SR160,000 for his showroom, in addition to other operational expenses, including electricity bills, decor and wages.
“The street vendors need not meet any such expenses. These vendors display various types of products on the pavements in front of our showrooms. They can lure shoppers by offering products at cheaper rates. Most shoppers are Haj and Umrah pilgrims. They prefer to buy these products because of their low prices compared with prices in the showrooms,” he said, adding that this phenomenon has resulted in them incurring losses amounting to millions of riyals.
While describing the potential threat posed to owners of showrooms at Aziziya market, Qassim Hussein cited an example.
“Suppose a street vendor buys a low quality pillowcase for SR9 and sells it for SR10. He gets a profit of SR1 as he has no expenses. On the other hand, shop owners display the same product with a higher price tag because they have expenses such as rents and wages. They may also be displaying products of better quality. The shoppers often cannot differentiate between the two, and so it is natural that they buy from the street vendor at cheaper rates,” he said.
Hussein Qaed, salesman at another shop, said that these women squat on the pavements in front of their shops and thus obstruct the way of shoppers to our outlets. “These vendors become the first sales point for the shoppers. They enter the shops after acquainting with prices of products displayed outside. When they see similar products at much higher rates inside the showrooms, they go out to buy from the street vendors,” he pointed out.
Mohsen Hussein, another salesman, said the inspection raids of squads from the municipality and other concerned agencies are virtually ineffective in tackling these illegal street vendors. “Despite the seasonal raids and monitoring by the concerned agencies, these vendors are at large and they can be seen from the early morning until late night at major markets and shopping areas in the holy city,” he said.
Hussein said a number of shop owners in the city are now in a desperate condition. “Without knowing how to meet the operational costs, including rent, electricity charge and salary of workers, owners of many showrooms are seriously considering shutting down their showrooms to avoid further losses,” he added. 

 

 

MAKKAH: Street vendors, Who are essentially  foreign women coming illegally from some foreign contries, are considered as a serious threat to retail outlets in the holy city of Makkah.

 Low quality products

They are selling  products of low quality at cheaper rates and they represent a big setback for shop owners who believe that they are incurring losses that reahced  millions of riyals as a result. A lot of shop owners complain that the Saudi authorities have not taken appropriate measures and are not able to carry out effective periodic inspections to put an end to this illegal practice.

On a tour to a popular commercial market in Aziziya district, Arab News noticed a huge presence of street vendors, some of them even blocking entrance to shops in the area. Muhammad Ali, an elderly shop owner, said that the area has been bustling with street vendors for a long time.

Clients are Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

“They are mainly non-Arab African women and migrants from erstwhile Burma, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Most of them are violators of residence regulations. Earlier, these vendors used to concentrate on the central area of the city surrounding the Grand Mosque to take advantage of the huge presence of pilgrims, especially during the peak Haj and Umrah seasons,” he said. However, a large number of them had to leave the Grand Mosque area due to ongoing construction projects in that part of the city, said Ali.

Qassim Hussein, who is a shop owner, said that he has to pay an annual rent of SR160,000 for his showroom, besides other operational expenses, including electricity bills, decor and wages. “The street vendors are not obliged to pay any such expenses. These sell display different types of products on the pavements in front of our showrooms. They can attract shoppers by offering products at cheaper rates. Most shoppers are Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. They prefer to buy these products because of their low prices compared with prices in the showrooms,” he said, adding that this phenomenon has resulted in them incurring losses amounting to millions of riyals.





   Hajj News          

Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK, a Hajj specific National Charity, working for the welfare and wellbeing of British Pilgrims welcomes the conviction of Hajj/Umrah Tour and Travel operator by the Birmingham Crown Court.  This tour operator was responsible for malpractice, fraudulent activities, and the breach of Package Travel, Holiday, and Tour Regulations 1992. Mr. Mark Jackson, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Ahmad booked an all-inclusive package for Mr Noori and his family, which included the promise of four and five star accommodation in Makkah and Med...

Read more...

British Muslims extend their congratulations to Ummah and Pilgrims on a safe Hajj
3 million pilgrims meet at Mena during the first day of Hajj
Over 2 million pilgrims are prepared for Hajj
Last Minute Health Warning to Hajj Pilgrims

   Event          

  During 3 days, from Saturday, December the 17th to Monday, December the 19th, the SIMM will welcome craftsmen, wholesalers, cultural and trade officers, as well as international Muslim scholars. Exhibitors and guests will display their expertise and unveil the diversity of the Muslim culture as well as its intellectual and spiritual values. Under the mottoes of « Knowledge », « Know-How » and « Letting know », the 2011 edition will showcase a rich and various program: conferences, workshops, animations, exhibitions, world food degustation, women fashion show. Both « know how ...

Read more...

GO-Makkah at the European Hajj & Umrah Exhibition in UK
Want to be part of UK’s leading Hajj & Umrah support service?
GO-Makkah successfully launches its Bahassa version

   Saudi Arabia          

Luxury hotels in Mecca were full for Hajj
Luxury hotels around the Grand Mosque in Mecca were running full for this year's Hajj despite hundreds of new rooms opening. "Makkah Hilton & Towers were a sell-out for the month surrounding Hajj," said Shuja Zaidi, the hotel's general manager and vice president for Hilton Worldwide projects in Saudi Arabia. "We had expected rates to be lower than in 2010 due to the increased supply of hotel rooms in and around the Haram." But demand exceeded supply and rates remained "in line" with last year.

Read more...