DAMMAM, 28 July 2003 — Al-Majarra Company has expressed its surprise at reports that its Zamzam Cola has been banned from entering the Saudi market.
“We have not received any official communiqué from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry or from Saudi customs about the issue,” a spokesman told Arab News last night.
Three containers of Zamzam Cola were allowed to enter the Kingdom on Saturday by customs officials, the Al-Majarra official added, containing 180,000 bottles of the Iranian-made cola.
Saudi customs has banned Zamzam Cola from entering into the local market, as there were objections over its brand name.
Zamzam is a continuous spring in the Grand Mosque and the water has religious significance. Another brand, Makkah Cola, has yet to get permission to distribute in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Majarra was officially denied permission to bottle its soft drink in the Eastern Province.
The company contended that a local plant would help in saving 45 percent of the import cost. The company official told Arab News that when they receive a communication from the Saudi authorities they will decide what to do.
“We have kept our options open, which include legal action to reverse this decision and changing the brand name in case legal action is not a viable course of action.”
