MAKKAH, 12 January 2006 — Haj is considered a golden business opportunity for Makkah locals. In spite of the holiday, many residents head to work to make a windfall profit on Haj. Many tend to work in their own business and those that don’t join seasonal jobs.
Ateya Al-Sulami, taxi driver, said that Haj is a continuation of the bustling business during Ramadan. He said that Haj is the biggest opportunity the whole year and someone could make at least four months’ profit in this period alone if they worked hard.
“My salary is not enough anymore. My kids are growing and as they grow, my financial obligation started to grow. This Haj season is a relief to my family and me financially. I can make up to SR20,000, which goes toward paying some debts and rent. During this period of time I work on buying and selling and as a taxi driver transporting pilgrims.”
Even workers are coming from faraway villages and cities to make extra cash. Muhsin, a municipality worker from Madinah who did not want to give his full name, said that seasonal jobs are not limited to Makkah residents only. He said he had come to Makkah because that is where the big money is.
“Working in a simple job during Haj season can generate large amount of profit,” said Mushin. “You can work as a driver, you can work in food business or clothes business, you can work as a guide or you can work in the seasonal jobs with Haj companies. The bottom line is you will get out from Haj season with large amounts of profit that will help in fulfilling financial obligations and paying debts.”
In Madinah, the Haj season is no different from Makkah where government workers and the unemployed take the opportunity to generate some profits. Madinah youth took the market with all types of different products to sell to pilgrims two weeks before Haj started. Even taxi drivers increased their charges from the normal between SR5 and SR10 to more than SR20 to drive pilgrims.
— Additional input by Yousuf Mohammad
