MAKKAH, 26 December 2006 — Haj is giving anyone with a business idea an opportunity to do a little business with the millions of visitors to the holy cities. Renting animals, selling antiques and, very much a booming local industry, taking souvenir photos of visitors in Saudi national dress are the favorites.

The Thour cave in Makkah was where the Prophet (peace be upon him) hid before he migrated to Madinah and spent much time praying and worshipping God. This historical site attracts many international visitors. It has provided a rich source of income for locals and overstayers alike who photograph visitors for as little as SR10 per image.

Rustum Akbar, a South Asian, said that he used to make large sums during Ramadan and the month of Haj. He buys film for SR45 and made SR55 from each one.

“I use nine films every day because it is a high season,” he said. “I make SR900 per day with a net profit of SR405. That is very good and equal to the salary of a government employee.”

He said that the place was so profitable that many foreigners and overstayers had invested their effort there.

Ali Gayed, from Egypt, worked with his camel and rented it for pilgrims to tour the place for four minutes for a fee of SR10.

Gayed said that most of the time these pilgrims loved to take souvenir photographs while on the beast. He sold the photos for SR5, which meant he made SR15 in four minutes.

“It is very profitable. I make between SR500 and SR600 from 6:00 a.m. to noon. The weather is nice these days and that is a major factor because everyone now wants to enjoy it.”

Essa Bakr pursues a new line of business that requires little capital but makes good returns. He bought three sets of Saudi traditional clothes, rents them to foreign pilgrims and takes souvenir photographs for as little as SR5 per picture.

He said that so far he had no competition. “There are always people from Malaysia, China and Europe who are interested in wearing the Saudi traditional clothes and having photos taken. So far I made 12 times as much as I paid for the outfits.”

Many pilgrims told Arab News that they loved to visit the area and climb the mountain to walk the path of the Prophet and to feel the pain and suffering he faced at that time when he hid from the people of Makkah who wanted to kill him. They said they wanted to photograph themselves there and take it home to remember the time they spent at the historic mountain.

The pilgrims said that on an average they spent SR40 per person on transportation and photos.