Ramadan sees cafes’ profits soar

Cafes in Jeddah are recording rising profits during Ramadan in spite of the government’s ban on shisha smoking inside these establishments, with some owners expecting increases of up to 70 percent compared to the rest of the year.
Many Saudis and Arab expatriates visit cafes after taraweeh prayer to watch television, smoke shisha and chat with friends. It has become an annual Ramadan tradition. An added advantage for cafe owners this year is that Ramadan coincides with the summer vacation.
The Jeddah Municipality and the Interior Ministry introduced the smoking ban in 2012, but cafes still offer their customers shisha. However, prices have gone up by more than 25 percent, from around SR8 to SR15.
Radwan Abu Al-Ainain, an Egyptian resident who manages a cafe in Al-Sitteen Street, told Arab News the cafe would make about SR70,000 in profit over Ramadan even though it operates only eight hours a day.
“There has been a 100 percent increase in the number of customers during the holy month. We expect this figure to increase further on weekends and the last days of Ramadan. It is very difficult to find a seat at the cafe after taraweeh prayers.”
“Smoking shisha is not the only thing that attracts huge numbers of visitors, especially youngsters, to the cafe. Most of them come here to spend their free time and watch Ramadan programs on satellite channels. Many cafes have made extensive arrangements to attract and accommodate huge numbers of customers during Ramadan.”
Many cafe owners have spent around SR20,000 on decor, installation of huge television screens and new chairs and tables. Mustafa Abu Laith, owner of a cafe on Al-Arbaeen Street, told Arab News Ramadan is a good time to make money.
“We have to make extra arrangements to accommodate the increasing numbers of customers in Ramadan. Many cafes supply meals for suhoor (meal before the start of the fast) and iftar (breaking of the fast).”
“The average profit of a cafe exceeds SR80,000 during Ramadan. These profits are linked to the quality of services offered by each cafe and their capacity to accommodate large numbers of customers,” he said.
Ahmad Abdul Salam, a Saudi youth working at a private company, said: “I frequently visit cafes during Ramadan where I meet my friends. We gather there after taraweeh prayers and chat for hours.”