Motorists are then persuaded to buy containers of the liquid. A small container sells for SR10, while a bigger one costs SR20.
“These illegal foreigners take advantage of the month of Rajab when many people prefer to do Umrah and the school summer vacation to make money by selling fake Zamzam water,” one resident in the Holy City told Arab News.
The Makkah governorate has taken a number of measures to put an end to this practice. It has ordered police to confiscate all gallons of water sold along the expressway and to deport the foreigners.
Saudi citizen Faris Al-Sharif is among those calling for a stand against fake Zamzam water.
“It can be stopped with swift intervention by officials and citizens and expatriates who refuse to buy fake Zamzam water sold along the Expressway,” he said.
“Some of them even mix Zamzam water with water from the wells which is not suitable for human use. This is hazardous to people’s health.”
Al-Sharif urged the Makkah municipality and passport officials to organize clampdowns on foreigners who sell fake Zamzam so they could be brought to justice.
“These cheaters used to sell fake Zamzam near the pumping station in Kudai district but have now moved to the expressway as it is easier for them to escape whenever they spot police officers,” he said.
Inmar Badr recalled that he was on his way to Jeddah when he stopped at the coffee shop next to Al-Binayan gas station.
“I saw a number of foreigners filling containers from a water truck. I asked them what they were selling and they told me it was Zamzam. After they left, I asked the truck driver and he told me that it was water from a local well,” he said.
Badr said he informed the municipality about the incident but did not know what happened after that because he had to continue his journey to Jeddah.
Fellow resident Hussam Fareed warned all drivers on the expressway who stop to buy Zamzam from foreigners to remember that it is probably not from the blessed well.
“You will be damaging your health or that of your relatives and friends if you buy it as a gift for them,” he said.