However, some of the products peddlers sell are past sell-by date or near expiry date. Customers are not aware of it, and even if they were, they would not have any choice.
The Jeddah municipality has been working hard this month to put an end to the problem of street peddlers before the start of Ramadan.
“The municipality has started implementing a plan to control peddlers during Ramadan and fight fake street vendors,” said Sami Nawar, head of the municipality’s historic area branch. “This plan has been approved by the mayor of Jeddah, Hani Abu Ras.”
Nawar said that the number of peddlers increased mostly in downtown area, where many poor families and illegal expatriates live. “Most of these peddlers have licenses issued by the municipality, because they are qualified, but in Ramadan they start cheating in order to earn more money,” he related.
Nawar added, “We intensified our field inspections in the downtown area to ensure people’s safety. We seized quantities of expired food, which we destroyed. Those selling food products without municipality licenses are committing a violation. Most of the street peddlers arrested are overstayers.”
The municipality urged citizens to cooperate with the responsible authorities to fight street peddlers. Apart from being illegal, peddlers often stand in the middle of the street, which disturbs the traffic movement and incites shop owners.
Ardal Zakaria, who owns a Turkish restaurant in Al-Kandara neighborhood, south Jeddah, complained of street peddlers standing in front of his restaurant selling expired food. “Most Asian customers and some Saudis prefer to buy from the peddler, who stands in front of my shop and has ‘special offers.’ We complained many times to the municipality, but every time they left, the peddlers came back,” said Zakaria.
Hamada Al-Masry, an Egyptian seller of pastry at Bab Sharif in the historical area, complained about the high competition he faced from peddlers each Ramadan.
“Although my store is one of the famous pastry makers in the historical area, I still face a real challenge in Ramadan because of peddlers. They prepare some pastry at home and fry some in the street, which is not healthy at all. Despite the low quality they offer, they still attract many customers from different nationalities,” said Al-Masry.
According to him, low prices were the factor that attracted many customers to buy from peddlers and ignore shops. “The old families that used to buy pastries from my shop still refuse the peddlers’ products. However, with prices increasing, many go for the peddlers.”
