MADINAH, 17 December 2006 — With many pilgrims now in Madinah, hotel occupancy has gone up to 100 percent. Markets are crowded and bustling with activity. The arrival of pilgrims from across the world has boosted the city’s business after a short period of recession.

According to Haj authorities, the number of pilgrims this year will be 25 percent more compared to last year.

More than two million pilgrims are expected to arrive for Haj this year from abroad. The areas around the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah are witnessing huge crowds these days.

Pilgrims like to buy things from Madinah and keep them as souvenirs or buy gifts for family members back home. They mostly buy prayer beads, carpets, dates and electronic equipment.

They also buy different kinds of presents and gifts that are associated with holy sites, such as small models of the mosques in Madinah and Makkah.

The gifts that many pilgrims buy to present to their family members back home are posters of the Prophet’s Mosque that show both the interior and exterior of the mosque.

Most of them buy the picture of the Al-Rawdah part inside the holy mosque.

Money changers are also doing roaring business. Pilgrims from different countries visit these money changers to convert their currencies into Saudi riyals for shopping and other expenses.

Even many stores in Madinah accept foreign currency from pilgrims. They buy them for less value and later exchange them at the normal market rate with the money changers.

In this way, these stores reap double profit — they get profit by selling products and also make a little extra by buying the foreign currency at low price.

The gold trade has also witnessed a sharp increase as many pilgrims buy gold as gifts for loved ones. Many pilgrims believe that prices of gold in the Kingdom are less compared to those back home.

A businessman who owns a number of gold shops said many pilgrims buy gold, especially those from Africa and Asia. Many of them buy it for business purposes because they would sell it when they return to their countries and make good profit out of it.

A Moroccan woman pilgrim, Malika, told Arab News: “The gold sold in the Kingdom is considered more valuable than the one in our country.

“It is better in terms of quality and purity. I can sell the gold jewelry I have bought now with profits ranging between 30 and 50 percent.

“Jewelry made in Kingdom is in great demand in our country because of its design and its origin — Madinah,” Malika said adding it would be wedding season in her country by the time she returns and the demand for gold jewelry will increase.

Pilgrims also buy Saudi traditional clothes as gifts for their friends and relatives back home.

Women especially buy abayas in a large quantity for selling those back home and also as gifts for friends and relatives.

Eid Al-Raddadi, owner of a cloth store in Quba area, said: “This is high business season and we are making over 100 percent profit.

The market is crowded with pilgrims shopping from early morning to late at night. There will be another period when business will pick up and that is soon after Haj, when pilgrims will shop before leaving the Kingdom.”

Saudis plying taxis are also making good money these days. Pilgrims hire Saudi drivers to visit historical locations and mosques in Madinah.

The frequently visited locations are Quba Mosque, Al-Qiblatain Mosque, Uhod cemetery and battle sites.

Many citizens and expatriates who live in Madinah feel that it is a great opportunity to earn by transporting pilgrims to these places.