- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Pilgrims flock to Mecca's famed gold markets
- Date: 23rd October 2012
- Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) MINARETS OF GRAND MOSQUE DURING ADHAN (CALL TO PRAYER) PILGRIMS SITTING ON GROUND, WAITING FOR PRAYERS PILGRIM READING QURAN VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PRAYING EXTERIOR OF JEWELLERY SHOP NEAR GRAND MOSQUE CUSTOMERS INSIDE JEWELLERY SHOP VARIOUS OF SUDANESE PILGRIM BUYING GOLD VARIOUS OF SHOP KEEPER SHOWING WOMAN GOLD BRACELET, WEIGHING IT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IJLAL SULAYMAN, SUDANESE PILGRIM, SAYING: "There is a difference in the price of gold between here and Sudan. Here, there are also different designs. Here you can choose from different designs, but in Sudan you have a limited choice. Here you have many options." VARIOUS OF GOLD JEWELLERY ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF WOMAN BUYING GOLD JEWELLERY SHOP KEEPER CALCULATING PRICE OF BRACELET WOMAN LOOKING AT JEWELLERY SHOP KEEPER PREPARING INVOICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAHDI AL-MEHRI, GOLD TRADER NEAR GRAND MOSQUE, SAYING: "The carat of Saudi gold is guaranteed, it is inspected (by the government). It if is 21 carat, it is guaranteed, so it never decreases in value, like in other countries. So if pilgrims buy it, it is reassuring for them to know that it's from Saudi Arabia and its carat is guaranteed." PILGRIMS LOOKING AT GOLD SHOP KEEPER TAKING OUT GOLD RINGS FOR CUSTOMERS VARIOUS OF GOLD BRACELETS ON DISPLAY PILGRIMS FROM BANGLADESH IN GOLD SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOHAMMAD IDRIS AL-RAHMAN, PILGRIM FROM BANGLADESH, SAYING: "It (buying Saudi gold) is for two reasons: one is, it is good gold, honesty is there. Second, this is holy place for the Muslims, so we prefer purchasing gold from this holy place." BRACELETS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF WOMAN BUYING GOLD. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN-AMERICAN PILGRIM SAYING: "In North America, we don't have the solid gold, there we don't have solid gold, they don't have solid gold. They have just the 10 carat, 14 carat, that's it." SHOP KEEPER CALCULATING PRICE OF BRACELET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI AL-MEHRI, GOLD TRADER, SAYING: "This year, you could say that our sales are low compared to last year. Last year, pilgrims had the money and there were not so many problems. Of course as you know, whenever there are problems in any country, there is less buying and selling." PILGRIMS WAITING FOR PRAYERS IN FRONT OF JEWELLERY SHOP NEAR GRAND MOSQUE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS LOOKING AT GOLD VARIOUS OF SHOP KEEPER PUTTING GOLD PURCHASE INTO BAG SHOP KEEPER COUNTING MONEY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAJ NAJEM, PILGRIM FROM IRAQI KURDISTAN SAYING: "When I come for the Umrah (pilgrimage), I don't buy, but during the Haj, I buy gifts for my home (family). Gold is better than buying clothes or anything else. This is for my home." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS LEAVING GRAND MOSQUE
- Embargoed: 7th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: People,Religion,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA9WMX6JAM4T0UBXU0Y3QOX50G5
- Story Text: Thousands of pilgrims, in Saudi Arabia this week for Islam's annual Haj pilgrimage, have been flocking to Mecca's famed gold markets to bring back precious souvenirs from the holy city.
Jewellery shops line the shopping malls and streets just outside the Grand Mosque, Islam's most sacred site, selling gold bangles, necklaces, rings and earrings engraved with trademark Middle Eastern and Indian designs.
Pilgrims say it is an opportunity to buy something special.
"There is a difference in the price of gold between here and Sudan. Here, there are also different designs. Here you can choose from different designs, but in Sudan you have a limited choice. Here you have many options," said Sudanese pilgrim Ijlal Sulayman.
Unlike the white gold ornamented with diamonds and precious stones on display in Dubai's shopping malls, gold in Mecca's markets hardly has any additions, which makes it alluring to customers who want to ensure the gold maintains its value, should they re-sell it in their home countries.
The city's gold merchants say the quality of their jewellery is unsurpassed.
"The carat of Saudi gold is guaranteed, it is inspected (by the government). It if is 21 carat, it is guaranteed, so it never decreases in value, like in other countries. So if pilgrims buy it, it is reassuring for them to know that it's from Saudi Arabia and its carat is guaranteed," said Mahdi al-Mehri, a gold trader near the Grand Mosque.
The market price of gold jewellery in Mecca is similar to the prices paid in the regional gold trade hub, Dubai. However, many pilgrims prefer to buy in Mecca because of the great religious significance associated with the place.
"It (buying Saudi gold) is for two reasons: one is, it is good gold, honesty is there. Second, this is holy place for the Muslims, so we prefer purchasing gold from this holy place," said Mohammad Idris al-Rahman from Bangladesh.
Despite the influx of customers, some gold traders said the regional turmoil had had a negative impact on their business, dampening trade from Egyptians and Libyans, who are usually keen gold-buyers.
"This year, you could say that our sales are low compared to last year. Last year, pilgrims had the money and there were not so many problems. Of course as you know, whenever there are problems in any country, there is less buying and selling," said Ali al-Mehri.
Mecca's merchants are famed across the Arab world, and usually enjoy a spike in business during the Haj as pilgrims stock up on souvenirs such as prayer beads and mats, Qurans, dates and zamzam water, pumped from a holy well.
But with many pilgrims having waited several years to get a precious Haj visa, buying gold jewellery is a priority. Pilgrims are also expected to bring back costly gold gifts for friends and family members.
"When I come for the Umrah (pilgrimage), I don't buy, but during the Haj, I buy gifts for my home (family). Gold is better than buying clothes or anything else. This is for my home," said Haj Najem from Iraqi Kurdistan, after spending $2450 on gold for his wife who could not make it for the Haj.
Wednesday is the first official day of the pilgrimage, with Muslims following a set form of rites laid out by the Prophet and culminating on Friday with the Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, a holiday across the Islamic world. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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