Eid Atmosphere in Jerash: Joy and Authentic Traditions Adorn the Ancient City - Jordan News
Eid Atmosphere in Jerash: Joy and Authentic Traditions Adorn the Ancient City Jerash Governorate is experiencing unique celebratory vibes during Eid, where old traditions blend with modern joy in a scene that reflects the community's authenticity and cohesion. اضافة اعلان Jerash Mayor Ahmad Hashim Al-Atoom said that the streets of Jerash are filled with festive decorations as residents head to mosques for Eid prayers, exchanging greetings and good wishes. The air is filled with the aroma of Arabic coffee and traditional sweets, particularly ma'amoul. Thair Ayasrah, Director of Tourism in Jerash, mentioned that the archaeological area is a popular destination for families and tourists during Eid, where they come to enjoy the traditional atmosphere and take memorable photos at the Roman Theater and the Columned Plaza. In addition, several heritage and artistic activities are held, adding a special touch to the celebration. He added that Eid represents an opportunity to strengthen family and social ties and contributes to boosting tourism and economic activity in the city. Zaid Zboun, President of the Charitable Societies Union in the governorate, pointed out that family visits are an essential part of Eid traditions in Jerash, as relatives and friends exchange greetings and sweets, which strengthens social bonds and renews affection between generations. Social activist Kawthar Al-Qaisi emphasized that popular markets, such as "Bab Amman" Market and "Friday Market," witnessed significant activity during Eid, with shops decorated and crowded with residents looking for new clothes and gifts for children. The sale of toys and traditional foods also thrives, attracting both visitors and tourists. Ferial Nazami, a member of the Jordanian Environmental Association, mentioned that Eid is incomplete without tasting the traditional dishes the city is known for, such as mansaf, which is the main dish for special occasions, along with sweets like hareesa and kunafa, which are some of the most in-demand items during this occasion. Citizen Mohammad Odibat noted that children play a significant role in the Eid atmosphere, with public parks and recreational areas filled with families bringing their children to play and have fun. Additionally, entertainment festivals, including theatrical performances and competitions, are held to bring joy to the little ones.
-- (Petra)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Al Bawaba
UAE Investors Flock to Food, Retail & Hospitality Stocks Ahead of Holiday Surge
As the UAE prepares for the Eid holidays, local equity markets are experiencing a familiar seasonal trend: a shift in investor focus toward food, retail, and hospitality stocks, driven by an anticipated surge in consumer spending and sales in the UAE are forecast to reach $10 billion this year, highlighting the economic significance of the festive period. Food and beverage producers, particularly Agthia Group, are already witnessing increased demand for staples such as dates, flour, and bottled water — key items during Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Agthia, listed on the ADX, reported an 8.1% year-on-year revenue increase in a recent quarter, largely fueled by strong seasonal sales."Investors have become more attuned to the predictable earnings rhythm driven by Eid-related consumption," said Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro. "We typically see a spike in food and retail performance leading into the holiday, and this often shows up in market movements."Retailers such as Union Coop (DFM-listed) and Lulu Group (ADX-listed) have benefited from increased foot traffic, gift-buying, and promotional campaigns. Union Coop has seen consistent holiday-driven growth since its listing in 2022, while Lulu Group has leaned into the festive momentum with store expansions and targeted hospitality sector is also capitalizing on the Eid travel boom. Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADX: ADNH) and other listed hotel operators reported significant increases in occupancy, with some Emirates peaking at over 95% during Eid al-Fitr 2025. This surge is driven in part by intra-GCC tourism and a rise in domestic 'staycations,' bolstering hotel revenues, RevPAR, and margins."The UAE's strong macroeconomic conditions, supported by elevated oil prices and a post-COVID tourism rebound, are reinforcing these seasonal trends," added Gilbert. "Tourism now contributes nearly 9% to the UAE's GDP, and festive periods like Eid deliver a clear economic and market impact."Equity traders have taken note. In the run-up to Eid, shares of consumer-focused companies often see increased trading volumes and positive price action. In one pre-Eid trading session, Dubai's consumer staples index jumped more than 2% in a single day, underscoring how investors reposition their portfolios toward holiday beneficiaries. While overall liquidity may dip during the holiday week, the run-up to Eid continues to offer a meaningful — if temporary — catalyst for UAE equities. As the festive period kicks off, companies in the food, retail, and hospitality sectors are once again in the spotlight, supported by strong consumer sentiment and investor interest.
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Eid Powers UAE Markets at 95% Hotel Occupancy and $10B in Sales
Each year, as the UAE heads into the Eid holidays, a familiar pattern tends to emerge across local equity markets. Investors start turning their attention to food, retail and hospitality stocks, anticipating a seasonal uplift in spending and activity. Consumer sentiment typically builds and peaks around Eid, with retail sales in the UAE forecast to hit $10 billion this year. This isn't just anecdotal, it shows up in the numbers. For instance, Agthia Group, a major player in food and beverages, often sees a spike in demand for staples like dates, flour and bottled water during holy periods in the UAE. In 2023, the company reported a strong Q2 before revenue softened in Q3, largely because the Eid-driven sales bump had passed. That kind of seasonal fluctuation has become a regular feature of Agthia's earnings rhythm, and investors are increasingly attuned to also benefit from this surge in pre-Eid shopping, according to Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro. Union Coop, one of the UAE's largest grocery chains, consistently reports higher footfall and sales leading into the holiday. Although only listed since 2022, the market's response to its seasonal performance has already been positive. Lulu Group, which listed on ADX last year, is another name that has leaned into festive demand with targeted promotions and store expansions. For investors, this seasonality has helped support upward momentum in the sector, particularly when paired with broader macro stocks tell a similar story. Eid is a high season for travel and leisure, and hotel operators tend to post stronger numbers off the back of it. Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) typically sees occupancy levels rise across its portfolio, and this year was no exception – hotel occupancy in some Emirates peaked at over 95% during Eid. These demand spikes often translate into improved RevPAR and profit margins, which can support share price moves around this macroeconomic conditions in the UAE have helped support seasonal equity trends around Eid. Elevated oil prices have boosted government spending and consumer confidence, while the post-COVID rebound in tourism and the job market has further fuelled festive demand. With tourism now contributing close to 9% of GDP, the influx of visitors during Eid has directly lifted retail sales and hotel occupancy. Household spending has remained resilient, especially during key cultural moments like Eid. For investors, this macro backdrop reinforces the case for stronger earnings across consumer-facing sectors during the festive period, which can often correlate to strong share price the Eid holidays approach each year, UAE equity markets tend to reflect a predictable seasonal shift. Investors often increase their focus on consumer-facing sectors in anticipation of festive surges in spending and travel. Trading activity gravitates toward food, retail, and hospitality shares that stand to benefit most from holiday demand. Macro drivers take a backseat during this period, as sector-specific trends dominate investor the weeks around Eid, consumption of food and consumer goods spikes as families prepare celebrations. This seasonal lift directly benefits UAE-listed food producers and retailers. Agthia Group – an ADX-listed food & beverage firm – often experiences strong demand for staples like flour, bottled water, and especially dates, a traditional delicacy. Notably, Agthia's revenues jumped 8.1% year-on-year in a recent quarter, driven by robust sales of dates, flour and other core the retail side, chains such as Union Coop (DFM) enjoy higher footfall and sales fueled by holiday promotions and gift-buying. Retailers typically launch Eid campaigns with steep discounts, and malls see some of their highest footfall and sales volumes of the year during the festive period The anticipation of strong Eid sales often leads to upward moves in these stocks and heavier trading volumes in the run-up to the holiday, as investors position for a potential earnings boost in the consumer Uptick Lifts Hospitality StocksEid is also a peak season for travel and tourism in the Gulf. Many families across the region take advantage of the days off for vacations or 'staycations,' resulting in a sharp uptick in UAE hotel occupancy and leisure spending. During Eid al-Fitr 2025, for example, hotel occupancy in some emirates nearly hit full capacity – Ajman peaked at 95.8% on the holiday night Intra-GCC tourism typically soars over Eid, bolstering hospitality and entertainment businesses; destinations like the UAE attract regional tourists and see a surge that boosts hotel revenues, retail sales and visitor spending This trend has direct implications for Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADX: ADNH) and other listed hospitality operators, which tend to report higher occupancies and RevPAR during and even restaurant stocks often trade actively around this season, as investors anticipate that festive tourism flows and dining-out plans will translate into improved quarterly results. Importantly, these seasonal consumption and travel patterns don't go unnoticed in the markets. Every Eid, market participants re-calibrate portfolios toward the beneficiaries of holiday spending, and the effect can be seen in short-term equity performance. For instance, consumer-focused stocks have at times led the market higher just before an Eid break – on one pre-Eid trading session, Dubai's consumer staples sector index jumped over 2% in a single day While overall liquidity can taper off during the holiday week, investor interest in names like Agthia, Union Coop and ADNH tends to spike ahead of Eid as traders seek to capitalize on seasonal demand drivers. In summary, the Eid period injects a notable, if temporary, catalyst into UAE equities, with food, retail, and hospitality shares enjoying a seasonal tailwind in both sentiment and trading activity.
Al Bawaba
02-05-2025
- Al Bawaba
The Tourist Card is now available in the heart of Moscow — at the new travel and banking Sber office
Travellers to Moscow can now obtain The Tourist Card at the new travel and banking Sber office located in the city center — on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, a multifunctional space that combines the capabilities of Sber's bank office and a tourist information center. All specialists are fluent in foreign languages and are ready to help foreign tourists from all over the world. The Tourist Card operates on Russia's Mir payment system. It's compatible with local merchants, public transport, and attractions. With no monthly maintenance fees, it's a cost-effective choice for tourists, allowing seamless payments for dining, transportation, and more. This financial tool solves the payments problems for Moscow visitors. More information on how to pay in the capital can be found on the Discover Moscow. Travelers can even order the card in advance and have it delivered by mail to their home country or a hotel, though a physical card isn't always necessary, as most places in Moscow allow payments using QR codes through the YooMoney app. Android users can add the card to Yoomoney Pay in the mobile app and pay by tapping their phone via NFC. For iOS users, payments can be made by scanning QR codes through the app — a widely accepted method across the country. Travelers can register for a Yoomoney profile and issue a virtual Tourist Card before leaving their home country. The process requires only a phone number — no Russian SIM card is needed—making it accessible for international visitors. Once in Moscow, the card can be topped up with cash at ATMs that support Yoomoney, providing a straightforward way to add funds using local currency. A plastic Tourist Card can be picked up at several locations, including Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, Yoomoney offices in Moscow, the Aerostar Hotel, and now it's available in the very center of Moscow — on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, where the travel and banking Sber office is located. Guests of the city can open an account, make necessary payments, exchange operations and transfers and get the Tourist Card here. Consultations are possible in several languages — the specialists of the tourist information center speak Russian, English and Arabic, while the employees of the Sber's bank speak Russian and English. Right here tourists can make an individual travel plan based on their personal preferences and take free booklets with information about the city. The booklets are also provided in several languages — Russian, English, Chinese, Arabic. The travel and banking Sber office provides the lounge area where tourists can have a rest, try traditional Moscow treats and taste some positions from The Moscow Tea Shop. While adults are planning the route, kids can play in the children's zone that was created jointly with legendary animation studio 'Soyuzmultfilm'.
