JEDDAH, 16 August 2007 — A Saudi man was recently left shocked and disappointed when he went to buy his usual kabsa from his favorite food joint. To his surprise the price of kabsa (a meal comprising rice and chicken or meat) had been increased by one riyal — something that is horrifying Saudis across the Kingdom.

The man said that he used to buy kabsa for SR8 and was asked for an extra riyal. “Every time I return from work, I have exactly SR8 in my pocket for lunch. When I was asked for an extra riyal, I withdrew with dignity and left instead of begging for cash,” he said.

The rise is attributed to a price rise in India, which is the Kingdom’s main rice supplier. Safar Al-Hazmi, a Saudi medical student in Jeddah, said he does not believe what rice importers in the Kingdom are saying about the issue.

Al-Hazmi does not believe that there is an increase in the price of importing rice from India.

“I do not believe Minister of Commerce Hashim Yamani when he said that the market is controlled by a system of supply and demand. He said that this is the reason behind the price increase and that people should look for alternative products. I feel like going on hunger strike until an official apologizes for the increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, restaurant owners continue to tell customers that the price increase is because suppliers have increased their prices.

However, one restaurant owner recently told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that restaurateurs are greedy and are themselves behind the price increase.

“The increase in prices have brought more profits to restaurants. They’ve taken advantage of a small increase in prices by raising the price of meals disproportionately to make more profit. The daily revenue from sales shows that we are the biggest winners,” he said.

In front of a popular kabsa restaurant in Jeddah there was a long line of customers discussing the price increase with sullen looks on their faces.

Kabsa is definitely one of the most popular dishes in Saudi Arabia — a price increase is considered by many Saudis to be an attack on their national pride.

Arab News observed how customers, in their bid to understand the increase, began analyzing the international economy and laid the blame squarely on the Indian rupee growing strong in front of a weak US dollar, with which the Saudi riyal is closely aligned.

However, conspiracy theories abound. “The Iranians have begun to buy rice and are sucking the world’s rice sources dry,” said a wry-looking old Bedouin.

“Iran is scared the US will attack and has started to stock up on rice,” he added gingerly.

Islam Shawkat, a worker at a kabsa restaurant in Jeddah, told Arab News that the price of kabsa could be reduced but profit margins would decrease. “It would be difficult for us to operate then,” he added.

The price of rice may have increased, but it will definitely not stop Saudis from having kabsa.