Vendors display a wide variety of traditional dishes of Asir province, including the favorite Ramadan drink sobia, as well as herbal perfumes and handicrafts. Customers of their homemade dishes are mainly bachelors and visitors to the city.

It is interesting to note that there is a growing presence of Saudi young shoppers in the popular Abha market. Many young men and women are now making a livelihood by opening sales outlets in the market.

On a tour to the market, Arab News saw an increased presence of women displaying their products for sale at the market since the beginning of the fasting month. These women hailing from various parts of Asir have put up a stiff competition for the majority of male shoppers.

Squatting in front of the displayed items, Umm Khaled told Arab News that she is selling meals and dishes that are indispensable in Ramadan.

“Most of these traditional dishes, such as oven-made pastry bread (Khobz Al-Fateer), and various types of bread made of corn, wheat and barley, are now available at eateries in the region. There is also a huge demand for traditional women’s dresses that are popular. Women shoppers are also engaged in the sale of various herbal perfumes, especially the one from sweet basil.”

The Abha Ramadan souk provides people with an opportunity to buy all types of consumer goods — both traditional and imported ones — in addition to Ramadan special items. People can buy household appliances, including utensils, clothes, toys and gifts besides artifacts that reflect the rich heritage of the region.

Muhammad Asiri is among the well-known vendors at the market. He has been engaged mainly in the sale of Haneed, the most popular traditional Ramadan dish in Asir. “There has been a tremendous response from people to buy this item,” he said.

Several young Asiris see Ramadan as a bonanza season for them. They are actively engaged in the sale of various juices and drinks, especially sobia.

Khaled Asiri, who has been in the market since four years, says he sees the free time during Ramadan as the golden opportunity to earn a huge amount of money. His friend Fahd Muhammad is engaged in the sale of various dishes made of beef and chicken.

Muhammad Al-Wayili is one of the most popular traders in the market whose main item is the sobia drink.

“I have been very busy in meeting the huge demand from people for the drink widely known as Sobia Al-Wayili. I have inherited the tradition of making sobia from my father. People in the region are keen to have this drink on their iftar table,” he said.