
Spiritual journey of Hajj pilgrims ends with gifts and souvenirs
MAKKAH: Throughout their profound journey of faith, especially as Hajj concludes, pilgrims commonly engage in the cherished custom of purchasing gifts.
They flock to the malls and markets of Makkah, particularly those around the Grand Mosque. This tradition expresses their spiritual fulfillment and prepares them for their return home, blessed by Allah for having performed the sacred rites, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
Gift buying represents joy at Hajj's successful conclusion and strengthens social bonds between relatives, SPA added.
Many gifts symbolize the holy sites and carry deep religious significance. Popular choices include Zamzam water, prayer beads, and copies of the Holy Qur'an.
Pilgrims also frequently buy perfumes like incense and musk, along with various types of dates — ajwa dates being especially sought after.
The markets of Makkah and Madinah see a significant boom after Hajj, bustling with pilgrims of diverse nationalities.
These vibrant markets include modern malls in the Haram area, the traditional Aziziyah Market, the Hijaz Market, and bazaars near the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.
Merchants actively meet this demand, offering a wide range of products, special offers for pilgrims, and often discounts on bulk purchases.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Saudi Gazette
36 minutes ago
- Saudi Gazette
Passports Directorate facilitates pilgrims' departure through all international ports
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The General Directorate of Passports affirmed its readiness to finalize pilgrims' departure procedures for the current Hajj season at various Saudi international air, land, and sea entry and exit points, and to facilitate their travel. The directorate stated that it has mobilized its personnel and technologies, supported by modern security systems, to implement this phase of the Hajj plan and ensure pilgrims' smooth departure. Meanwhile, the government entities in the Madinah Region have begun seeing off pilgrims returning to their home countries via Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, after performing Hajj this year with ease and tranquility. After performing Hajj, large numbers of pilgrims are arriving in Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque and greet Prophet Muhammad and his two companions. A program has been implemented to facilitate their transfer from residences to the airport. The program is overseen by the Hajj and Visit Committee in the region and relevant entities to ensure the orderly and timely departure of flights to various destinations. The Madinah airport recorded tangible success during the pre-Hajj phase by receiving Hajj flights smoothly and efficiently. During the arrival period, the airport received 719,400 pilgrims, representing 49 percent of all air-arriving pilgrims to the Kingdom during this Hajj season. These pilgrims arrived on board 1,910 flights from 196 cities in 53 countries, operated by 65 airlines, starting from April 29. This volume accounted for 60 percent of all Hajj flights received by Saudi airports during the arrival phase.


Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
SMC Healthcare CFO on upcoming retail IPO after pricing at top end
In this special interview with the CFO of SMC Healthcare on The Riyal Deal Plus, Tom Burges Watson asks Hani Charani about the next steps for the healthcare provider and what investors can expect - from doubling capacity to expanding specialized care - as the IPO is 64.7 times oversubscribed ahead of the retail offering from June 15 to 16. Ali Raza, the strategic advisor to the Saudi Arabia Holding Company breaks down the IPO trend in the Kingdom. Guests: Hani Charani, SMC Healthcare CFO


Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Spiritual journey of Hajj pilgrims ends with gifts and souvenirs
MAKKAH: Throughout their profound journey of faith, especially as Hajj concludes, pilgrims commonly engage in the cherished custom of purchasing gifts. They flock to the malls and markets of Makkah, particularly those around the Grand Mosque. This tradition expresses their spiritual fulfillment and prepares them for their return home, blessed by Allah for having performed the sacred rites, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. Gift buying represents joy at Hajj's successful conclusion and strengthens social bonds between relatives, SPA added. Many gifts symbolize the holy sites and carry deep religious significance. Popular choices include Zamzam water, prayer beads, and copies of the Holy Qur'an. Pilgrims also frequently buy perfumes like incense and musk, along with various types of dates — ajwa dates being especially sought after. The markets of Makkah and Madinah see a significant boom after Hajj, bustling with pilgrims of diverse nationalities. These vibrant markets include modern malls in the Haram area, the traditional Aziziyah Market, the Hijaz Market, and bazaars near the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. Merchants actively meet this demand, offering a wide range of products, special offers for pilgrims, and often discounts on bulk purchases.