MAKKAH, 6 November 2004 — Taxi business in Makkah is not as profitable as it used to be. Many young Saudis work as taxi drivers in Makkah during Ramadan. Some of them rent cars or use their own cars as taxis. In the past, Makkah taxi drivers used to charge pilgrims exorbitantly to drive them to the holy mosque from the parking lots. This year, there were fewer number of Saudi and foreign taxi drivers with the introduction of minibuses that take pilgrims to the holy mosque for as little as SR5.
Taxi driver Abu Omar, 45, told Arab News: “In the past, business was profitable and I used to make three times my salary during Ramadan. I used to charge visitors and pilgrims SR30 to take them from the Resefa parking place, west of Makkah. In the last ten days of Ramadan, I would charge no less than SR100. This job used to attract many Saudis. I know Saudis who come from as far as Jeddah to do this seasonal job because it is worth the time. Ever since minibuses started operating to the holy mosque, people are attracted to them because the charge is SR3 and never more than SR5. There was a time when I used to make between SR700 and SR1,000; these days I struggle to make SR120”.
Belal Khan, a Pakistani resident, said: “It used to be a profitable business. I used to earn good money, but not any more these days. I do not have a car and I rent a private car for SR130 per day for 12 hours. In the past before the minibuses came, I used to earn over SR700 a day and it was worth the work. Now, the income is not as good as it was, plus police prevent us from waiting near the parking places to pick up pilgrims and visitors. My customers must be families with children, because for them it is easier to take a car than individuals who would opt for minibuses”.
