JEDDAH, 12 October 2007 — Pilgrims coming from outside Jeddah, particularly over the last days of Ramadan, complain about the unscrupulous exploitation by taxi drivers who raise fares during the holy month.
According to Al-Madinah newspaper, drivers who operate at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA), all of them Saudis given exclusive rights to pick up travelers from the airport, are charging SR300, about three times the usual amount, to take pilgrims to Makkah, an 80-km journey.
Taxi drivers departing from Bab Makkah in downtown Jeddah are also increasing their rates.
Abdullah Al-Marzouk, a Saudi pilgrim accompanied by his aged parents, said he was shocked by the greed of the taxi drivers at the Jeddah airport.
“The taxi drivers behaved like a mafia and every one of them demanded SR300 for a trip to Makkah,” he said. “I had to agree to their demand because my aged parents could not stand waiting. At least the drivers should know that they should not be exploiting pilgrims particularly on these blessed nights.”
Thawab Otaiby, a pilgrim who traveled by air from Hail to Jeddah with his family on Tuesday, said: “I had to pay SR300 for a small taxi to Makkah. I did not want to take a cheaper, but illegally operating, private taxi as I was afraid of the driver’s conduct if you have your family with you.”
On the other hand, a Saudi taxi driver said he demanded higher charges because he wanted to make money to celebrate the Eid, which was becoming more expensive because of the rising cost of living these days.
According to a source at the Shumaisy checkpoint, 250,000 Umrah pilgrims entered the holy city on the evening of the 27th night of Ramadan.
Travelers in general should be careful when they fly into Jeddah. Men, usually Saudis with private vehicles, will walk around inside the terminal building offering rides implying they are legitimate cabbies.
“A lack of uniforms can make it difficult to discern legitimate from illegitimate drivers. Travelers should not barter taxi service until they are near the location where the cars are lined up to pick up passengers,” said the victim of a recent rip-off.
