JEDDAH, 8 December 2006 — Azizallah Khan, a Pakistani cab driver in Jeddah, is willing to confirm what many suspect: that the fare depends as much on how you look as on how far you need to go.

“I decide the price for every customer depending on how he looks, the way he dresses,” said Khan. “I also charge more from those who live the posh northern areas of the city than those living in the poorer southern areas. From my experience those in northern areas do not haggle much.”

It also sees that if you’re Saudi, or appear to be Saudi because you’re wearing traditional clothing associated with Saudis, you end up paying more than expatriates.

Ahmand Shawqi, an Egyptian that has lived in the Kingdom for 15 years, says he’s noticed that the price of cab fare seems to increase if he’s perceived to be a local.

“I look like a Saudi when I go out in my thobe (the traditional long-shirt worn by Gulf Arabs),” he said. “I pay 15 to 20 riyals more for a ride that normally costs SR10.”

Part of this may be attributed to the fact that many workers in the Kingdom are Asian expatriates. According to Indian barber Hassan Koya, economics may be at play; he points out that considering wages of an average Asian guest worker he tends to sympathize with them more than with high-paid locals.

“They have the means to pay more,” he said. This may explain why Western expatriates are often given the same price shrift as Saudis.

Another Pakistani driver, Shafeek Ahmad, said that part of the problem is that the less money you have, the more likely you are to negotiate for a lower fare.

“Saudis are less likely to seek out a bargain,” he said.

The issue is raised not just with cab fare. Muhammad, an Indian driver in Jeddah, said he goes to Indian barbers because they always charge him less.

“I’ve been going for years to an Indian barber; he’s always charged me only SR5.”

Turkish barber Mahmoud Oklu said that it’s common for people from the same country to cut each other deals.

“Customers from other nationalities, especially Saudis, end up paying off that balance,” he said.