JEDDAH: With the arrival of Ramadan, hectic activities are witnessed across the city with the decorative lighting spilling into the streets and spreading a feeling of happiness and joy among residents. This year with the holy month happening in summer, temperatures will be hitting 50-52 degrees Celsius, with residents fasting for as many as 15 hours, from dawn until sunset, in scorching heat.

Preparations for Ramadan in the malls, commercial shopping areas and supermarkets are in full swing with a carnival like atmosphere. Festive colored lights are switched on, and mosques are illuminated.

This is the most awaited month for everyone such as for those seeking spirituality, it is the month of refinement and self-restraint and for businessmen and traders it is the month of vigorous sales and brand building.

Major supermarkets and hypermarkets across the city have already started their Ramadan promotional offers in efforts to attract the largest possible number of consumers eager to obtain discounts on their favorite food items and goods. The wide range of items offered this Ramadan season within the Kingdom is quite varied due to a strong demand by consumers. Several supermarkets are offering a convenient shopping experience to shoppers. Arrangements have been made for the items according to its categories in order to facilitate hassle free shopping during the promotion season.

Rahmatullah Mohammed, marketing manager of a leading supermarket said, “The prices on all promotional items would be 30 percent less this year. Important kitchen ingredients, like Mazola oil will be sold at SR36 for two packs of 2 liters along with a promotional gift against the normal price of SR46 and the rest of the products like rice, sugar, flour, lentils etc will be displayed on attractive offers as well.”

Moreover, local fruit and vegetable vendors said that they have gathered larger quantities of fruits and vegetables and promised to display them with better prices. Bassam, a local vendor said, “Ramadan is a month where we earn double the amount than on other regular months. We usually have sales of SR200-350 per day but, during Ramadan the intake of fruits increases and we earn around SR500 per day for which we order around 10-12 crates per day.”

Similarly, the date shops are decked out with new varieties of dates and vendors are hopeful for their business to flourish double the sale than regular months. Likewise, several mosques in the city have started to prepare themselves for Ramadan. Moreover, white washing and maintenance work has been carried out in all the mosques. Mohammed Abdullah, caretaker of a mosque added, “As the women’s prayer area will be opened in Ramadan, we have ordered additional prayer rugs for the tents that will be built outside the mosques for the women to stay with their children and complete their prayer without disturbing other worshippers.”

Furthermore, most restaurants are offering special Ramadan menus and banquets. Celebrating the holy month of Ramadan has become a fusion of worldly materialism and religion. Whether it is iftar or suhoor, families are seen heading to popular restaurants in different hotels across Jeddah. Most iftar venues in hotels are bedecked with Arabic and Ramadan themes. Others have gone beyond that by putting up stalls outside the restaurants overlooking the most tranquil of surroundings. And they all have their own special way of wooing families, with iftar food specialties playing a major role.

Sarah Mohammed, a resident of Jeddah, said that Ramadan is the most awaited month and celebrated in a most splendid way in Saudi Arabia.

The decorations around the city enhance the meaning of Ramadan and make it clear that this month is significant to people. She loves the feeling of unity and joy spread from the goodwill that is evident throughout the city.