By WALAA HAWARI | ARAB NEWS

RIYADH: Statistics show that the number of people performing Umrah during the Ramadan season has reached 4 million during the first half of the holy month. They also show estimates of pilgrims spending more than SR4 billion on gifts and souvenirs.

According to the statistics, all Umrah pilgrims and visitors, regardless of nationality and social background, buy gifts that are spiritual in nature to present to relatives and friends to document their spiritual visit to the land of the two holy mosques.

Rosary beads, antiques, handicrafts, prayer mats and prayer wear are at the top of the Umrah pilgrims’ choices, especially during the holy month. This has encouraged tradesmen to compete in offering a variety of practical souvenirs and gifts with high quality.

According to textile expert and tradesman Salem Al-Ammari, visitors to the holy mosques buy many prayer wear as souvenirs, and practical gifts that pump up the sales to 150 percent of the year’s sales. Textile tradesmen import fabrics of a specific nature, Al-Ammari points out, adding that buying prayer wear is not limited to visitors, but also considered an essential present that women exchange during the month of Ramadan. READ MORE