RIYADH, 20 January 2005 — The time has been set for Eid prayers in the nation’s capital, though the streets and shopping malls seem strangely quiet as many families appear to be traveling abroad for the holidays. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that Eid-Al Adha prayers will be held at 6.50 a.m. in 56 mosques in addition to Eid grounds in different parts of the capital today.
Preparations have been made to conduct prayers at open spaces in Sulaimaniyah, Deerah and Manfuha with special arrangements for women.
The Department of Mosques has instructed the imams and those responsible for maintenance in the mosques to ensure that all arrangements, including adequate supplies of power and water, are made. Emergency plans have been drawn up for other mosques in case of rain at the open areas.
Meanwhile, a random survey of major hypermarkets revealed that the number of shoppers has dropped there not only because of the usual pre-Eid exodus from the capital but also due to the unusually cold weather during the last few days. The many shopping malls that have sprung up in the city were also able to lure away some of the Eid shoppers. Besides the expatriates who have flown back home for the Eid holidays, even Saudi families have left for nearby destinations in Dubai and Bahrain, which had launched a promotional blitz in advance for Eid vacations. As a result, Riyadh’s streets seem almost deserted with only a few cars plying the roads.
The Bahrain e-visa scheme, allowing expatriates to obtain e-visa over the Internet, has led to an average of 1,500 visas being downloaded each month, with numbers expected to double over the next year. Additionally, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), scheduled from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12, coincides with the Haj holidays. This has contributed to a large turnout of Saudi visitors at the festival.
Speaking at one of the major malls in the capital, Abu Abdullah, a bank executive, told Arab News that the shopping items in demand these days include clothing, shoes and perfumes. According to him, the average Eid-related spending of a Saudi family (husband/wife plus three children) stands at SR 2,000-2,500. This is in marked contrast to a study conducted by Okaz in December 2001, according to which an average Saudi family spent an estimated SR 7,300 on Eid-related shopping. The amount went up to SR16,000 in families with a monthly income of more than SR5,000, while it was as low as SR2,500 in families with an income below SR5,000, according to the study, which surveyed 90 families.
Abu Abdullah said the average size of the Saudi family is shrinking due to the drop in the per capita income, estimated at $13,330 by the 2003 Human Development Report. This compares with $18,700 for Kuwait, $19,844 for Qatar and $20,530 for the UAE. “The fact that many small- and medium-size American cars have entered the Saudi market shows that the average size of the Saudi family has downsized from an eight or nine-member family in the past to five-member family at present.
Installment firms have mushroomed offering installment facilities for things big and small, he added.
