JEDDAH, 12 August — Sales of air-conditioners in the Kingdom increased by 90 percent this summer, Al-Madinah reported yesterday.
The dramatic rise in AC sales came after temperatures hit 50 degrees Celsius (123 Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country.
More than 1.5 million air-conditioning units are sold in the Kingdom annually. The largest number of ACs is sold in Jeddah, followed by Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Qassim.
Ali Al-Bassam, a Saudi AC trader, said the desert coolers produced in the Kingdom were gaining popularity. “These coolers can last 12 to 15 years with proper maintenance,” he said, adding that they accounted for 10 percent of the market.
Badr Al-Rajhi, director of Al-Jazeera Air-conditioners, said the locally-made AC units are gradually winning consumer confidence.
Abdullah Al-Tami, another trader, confirmed the role of soaring temperatures in boosting the market.
Meanwhile, market sources in Riyadh said the demand for used air-conditioners jumped 70 percent.
Mardhi Al-Dosary, owner of a shop which sells used household items, said most of the used ACs came from auctions at government departments and major private companies.
“There is good demand for these used ACs as they are cheap and relatively in good condition,” Dosary told Arab News. The prices of used ACs range between SR300 and SR1,200 depending on type, period of use, appearance and guarantee.
Habib Al-Musaed, a broker at Ibn Qasim market in Manfouha, said some government officials sell ACs after using them a few months to avoid the trouble of transporting and storing them. Expatriates leaving the Kingdom for good after the Saudization drive was intensified sell their ACs at low prices.
