MINA, 22 January 2005 — As pilgrims started relaxing after the second day of the stoning ritual, small wayside restaurants and shops as well as hawkers are doing brisk business here. Money is pouring in from all directions on these traders. From roadside vendors to fast food restaurants and other utility centers have doubled their business this year. A shop selling juices, ice-cream and water near the Jamrat was seen receiving hundreds of customers everyday.
“We have almost doubled the business compared to last year. Business was badly affected by last year’s stampede. People were worried about the well-being of their near and dear. This year, Alhamdullilah, everything has passed off so peacefully that pilgrims are relaxed and in a festive mood. They are thronging shops and we are doing good business,” Fahd Al-Mahdi, a shop owner, said.
“We were doing business worth SR7,000 to SR8,000 daily this time last year. This year the figure is almost double. Every day we sell ice-cream, juices and other items worth SR10,000 to SR15,000,” Mahdi said.
As demand increased some of the traders hiked prices. “Till yesterday I got a bottle of water for SR1 but today some shops are charging SR2,” Abdul Moin Chaudhry said in his camp near King Abdul Aziz Bridge.
The shopkeepers have their own way of justifying the exorbitant prices they are charging for beverages. “I paid SR60,000 for my shop here. I have to take out that money first and then I’m a businessman after all. I will certainly try to maximize my profit,” said an Egyptian, Emad Haroon, who was manning the shop.
Many regular shop owners have also marked up prices and they justify their action saying that they have paid high rents.
Hawkers who are supplying bread, rice, cigarettes, cold drinks and other items in tents are also making a cool killing. They are ferrying edibles from one camp to another to sell them at a premium. “We are providing camp-to-camp service. Do you want us to sell items at cheap prices?” asked a Bangladeshi hawker, Abdul Bashir. “I am making over SR2,000 per day after paying some money to my employer,” he added.
A plate of plain rice is being sold at SR5, chicken per plate SR20, sliced bread normally sold at SR2 is being sold at SR5.
Cigarette sales are banned in Mina, but it is available — one just has to a pay a little extra. “I am paying SR10 for a packet normally available at SR5. But I don’t mind, at least I am getting it,” said Abdullah Al-Shamrani.
Illegal shops have also sprung up everywhere, causing congestion on the roads. “We have to achieve a year’s turnover in two-three days. We do that every year. This year due to an incident-free Haj, pilgrims are more relaxed and are enjoying their stay in Mina,” said Waleed Khatani.
But one remarkable thing is that whatever the price, they are providing everything needed by the guests of Allah. There is no dearth of food and beverages in the valley of Mina.
