10 January 2006
Bottomline
For some traders, Mina means money
- By Siraj Wahab
Mina (Saudi Arabia), Jan. 9: It is common knowledge that many enterprising Muslims from Central Asian countries come to Saudi Arabia not just to perform Haj but also to make some extra money. They sell carpets, silver items and Russian binoculars in Mecca, Mina and Medina after arriving in the kingdom from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. In each country they stop and sell items they have brought with them in order to cover the costs of the journey. What is less well known, however, is that there are also many from African-Arab countries who come to the holy land to make a fast buck.
Al-Filali Najeeb, a Moroccan in his late 40s, is one of those. He has been coming to Saudi Arabia for the last six years. "I deal in Moroccan 'thobes'. I have a chain there in my name. In 2000, I was here to perform Haj. At that time I brought a few hundred 'thobes' with me to be sold when the pilgrimage was over. I sold them in a few hours. I was happy and the businessman in me was excited. I saw an opportunity and the next year I was back in Mina, but this time not as a pilgrim but purely as a trader."
A "thobe" is a loose, long-sleeved, ankle-length garment worn by Arab men. Summer "thobes" are white and made of cotton, while winter "thobes" can be darker and made of wool.
Najeeb, whose makeshift shop is located in one of the tents in the Mina valley, said his Haj business has grown in the last three years. "I now have two tent-shops in Mina. I met a Saudi national and rented these two shops. Part of the profit goes toward his commission. In these five days, I make enough money," he said.
For Najeeb, the business begins during Ramzan itself. "I generally come to Saudi Arabia from Casablanca during the first week of Ramzan. That is when I unload my consignment of readymade 'thobes,' 'ihrams' and 'ghutras.' I have makeshift shops in Mecca as well. Ramzan gives me an idea about what is in demand. Because Mecca draws people from all over the world, I immediately get to know the trend. Then I ship goods for the Haj period accordingly," he explained.
A "ghutra" is a square scarf, made of cotton, folded in a triangle and worn over the head. It is either all white or red and white checked.
"Trading during Haj is allowed. Merchants have for centuries pinned their hopes of increasing business on the annual pilgrimage," Najeeb said. "I have always put a cap on profit. I don't jack up prices. I believe in fixed-price business. I don't believe in haggling. Many pilgrims come and start haggling and I tell them if you come to Morocco, you will find no difference in prices. I make money here based on the volume of business that I do. During Haj 2004, I must have sold 100,000 'thobes.' That was the best year for me. In Morocco, it would take me about eight months to sell 100,000 'thobes.' What a difference. Eight months there and five days in Mina!"
Last year was bad for Najeeb. "Business was good but my profits were washed away by the rains that flooded Mina on the last day of Haj. My shop was completely destroyed. I could barely retrieve anything but I didn't lose anything. I didn't make anything. It is all Allah's will. I am happy in every situation," he said with a smile.
"People who come to Haj are huge spenders. They always buy souvenirs. My branded 'thobes' make an ideal gift. The best buyers are of course Saudis. Then there are pilgrims from Gulf countries. They love Moroccan 'thobes.' I have 'thobes' ranging in price from 40 Saudi riyals (about Rs 480) to 700 Saudi riyals (Rs 8,400). People from Third World countries find my prices too high but they are big kaffiyeh buyers," he said. "The late Yasser Arafat had made the kaffiyeh instantly recognisable the world over with his trademark checkered head-dress. Indians always ask for the kaffiyeh and call it the 'Arafat roomal'."