MAKKAH: The area around the Grand Mosque has fewer beggars and street vendors nowadays, thanks to the increased vigilance by authorities in light of numerous construction projects going on in the area.

Instead these people have relocated near Jabal Al-Rahma (Mount of Mercy) to beg or peddle their goods away from the higher levels of scrutiny seen in the traditional locations around the mosque complex.

Most beggars and street vendors are overstayers, people who came legally on pilgrimage visas but remained to eke out a living as illegal workers.

Gaid Hassan, a 26-year-old Yemeni, came to the Kingdom about eight months ago on an Umrah visa but decided to prolong his stay and try his luck with his micro-business: renting camels from local bedouin for SR20 a day and charging visitors to the area SR10 for pictures and five-minute rides.

“I am now staying at Jabal Al-Rahma in Arafat, which is rarely visited by the passport officials,” he told Arab News. “We have decorated the camels and are making about SR200 daily from these rides (during peak season).”

Muhammad Ali, a 16-year-old Yemeni overstayer, said he paid 500 Yemeni rials (SR10) to be guided across the border. He said adding that he headed straight for Jabal Al-Rahma because he knew he would find his countrymen there.

Ali borrowed money to buy a camera, which cost him SR250 and two rolls of film at SR20 and began taking memorial photos for the visitors.

“In four days I was able to repay my debt of SR300 and now I am making good money, which sometimes reaches SR150 per day,” he said.

Hussain Murshid, a Yemeni beggar, said he collects between SR25 and SR50 every day.

Iqbal Akbar, who has been illegally staying in the Kingdom for about two years, sells worry beads and post cards.

“I make up to SR200 a day from this job which goes much higher during the pilgrimage season,” he said.

Thousands of foreigners, especially Africans, live in Makkah without proper documentation.

Some citizens and legal residents complain that the authorities turn a blind eye on the overstayers who pose a security threat to them, but police deny this.