JEDDAH: As Saudis and expats celebrate the Eid Al-Adha festival, livestock dealers in the Kingdom are making the traditional purchase of offerings easier through e-sales and smartphone apps.
Online sellers have adopted the latest marketing techniques for sacrifices, with market traders this year offering a selection of sheep, cattle and goats to customers via Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
The result is greater convenience for those wishing to buy Eid offerings without visiting the market.
Merchants publish and market Eid sacrifices on social media with videos and photos showing the outlet’s location as well as the weight, age and price of the animal.
Livestock e-sellers offer options such as slaughtering, packaging and delivery of the sacrificial animal.
Abdullah Al-Harbi, a sheep trader who posts images of live sheep and goats on Twitter, told Arab News that traffic jams, crowds of buyers and chants from sellers are commonplace at the Jeddah livestock market on the eastern side of the city.
But conditions have changed in the past two years, he said.
“Many are still visiting the markets to buy sheep after inspecting them physically, but we have noticed many are seeking to avoid crowds and are going online to buy everything from groceries to clothes and electronic devices. That’s why we created our own accounts to sell online.”
Al-Harbi, 39, who sells hundreds of sheep during Hajj, said that online sales had climbed this year.
Digital sales mean buyers have no need to visit his premises. “It’s safer to do the transaction online, getting the best service, and we make sure we deliver to their doorstep on time,” he said.
Al-Harbi said that prices for sacrificial animals this year ranged from SR1,200 ($320) to SR1,800.
Abdulqader bin Abdulrahman Al-Biladi, a private sector employee, told Arab News that he usually brings his sacrifice home a week before Eid, as his children enjoy taking care of the animals. But not this time.
“Traditionally, I visit the cattle market to buy the animal of my choice to sacrifice on Eid Al-Adha, but one of the traders I always deal with offered me his service online instead of going to his farm,” he said.
Commenting on the way delivery apps are transforming society, Abdullah Al-Subaie, a tech expert, told Arab News: “As the pandemic hit in early 2020, consumers quickly changed their shopping habits. Instead of risking disease exposure and waiting in long queues, consumers started to rely on delivery services, and for many it became a habit.”
He said that society benefits from the technological advancements, with food delivery apps making dining more comfortable for people.
“Food delivery app development is gaining peak popularity in Saudi Arabia.”
The Ministry of Commerce said that 83 outlets have been registered on its Maroof platform, offering e-shoppers a choice of sheep with a simple click.
Saudi dealers make livestock purchase easier through e-sales and apps
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Saudi dealers make livestock purchase easier through e-sales and apps
- Online sellers have adopted the latest marketing techniques for sacrifices, with market traders this year offering a selection of sheep, cattle and goats to customers via Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram
Najran’s camels are embedded in local culture and traditions
- Several distinct camel breeds are found in the region
- Animals permeate Arab consciousness, says expert
RIYADH: In Najran, camels are not only a vital livestock resource but also a cornerstone of local identity and tradition.
According to Hadi Benyan Al-Amer, head of Najran’s Camel Association, the region has several distinct camel breeds.
Principal among them is the Awarik, an ancient Arabian lineage linked to territories where arak trees flourish, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
These light-colored, sparsely-haired camels possess remarkable resilience, and are prevalent across southern Arabia.
The Majahim are characterized by dark hues spanning black to brown, and excel in both milk yield and endurance.
The Asayil are prized for their sleek, lean physiques, and dominate in speed-based competitions.
Al-Amer said traditional water sources known as Odood, or traditional water wells and artesian wells, have sustained herders navigating the Empty Quarter’s grazing lands for generations.
These permanent water points, equipped with dedicated drinking basins for camels, showcase the animals’ extraordinary environmental resilience.
Among the principal wells accessible from Najran are Al-Minkhali, Abu Shadid, Hamra Nathil, Tamani, Umm Al-Wahat, and Khujaima.
Countless additional wells dot the Empty Quarter and adjacent territories, forming the backbone of camel owners’ far-reaching pastoral networks.
Dr. Hind bint Dawood Al-Shuqair of Najran University’s Arabic Language Department explained how camels have permeated Arab consciousness through legends and stories spanning thousands of years.
Representing endurance, power, and grace, they have become inseparable from Arab cultural identity.
Archaeological evidence at Al-Ukhdood, Mount Al-Tharwa and Hima, preserves through carvings and ancient artwork the deep bond between people and camels, Al-Shuqair said.
She drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in camel heritage, exemplified by proclaiming 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
This designation emphasizes their importance to national prosperity and cultural heritage while backing global initiatives to promote awareness of camels as valuable economic and cultural assets.
The Kingdom further demonstrates its commitment to protecting the animals through the annual King Abdulaziz Festival, the SPA reported.
