RIYADH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has described the movement of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat during the current Haj season as unprecedented.
Speaking on Saudi TV Channel 1, Prince Khaled said the Kingdom is providing quality services to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, “which has stirred the envy of its enemies.”
He said the requirement that pilgrims wear electronic wristbands is part of a comprehensive plan for Makkah and holy sites during the Haj season, a plan that will see Makkah changed into a smart city.
Resorting to electronics to control the flow and movement of pilgrims is in line with the leadership’s directives and befitting a smart city, he said.
He called on those who performed Haj to give the chance to those who have not yet performed it, because Islam, he said, only ordered that Haj be performed only once in a lifetime for those who can afford it physically and financially.
The Makkah governor said the number of illegal pilgrims has dropped to 5 percent, compared to 9 percent and 70 percent in 1436 and 1435 pilgrimage seasons, respectively.
He attributed the drop in illegal pilgrims to the success of the regulatory plans and the penalties announced in case of violators.
He said fraud, deception and breaking systems contradict Islamic ethics, and citizens and foreign residents alike should behave accordingly.
“Those who do not respect themselves do not respect the system, so why should we respect them,” he asked referring to those who resort to fraud in an attempt to perform Haj.
Referring to the movement of pilgrims on Arafat Day, the ascension of all pilgrims to Mina and then to Mount Arafat, the Makkah governor termed it as unprecedented in terms of ease and flow of movement.
He has commended the great efforts exerted by those working to serve the pilgrims, and the role of Saudi youth in the service of Hajis.
Prince Khaled stressed that “all services provided by Saudi Arabia to pilgrims are part of our duty, especially as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is paying great attention to serving the pilgrims.”
Makkah governor lauds smooth flow of Hajis
Makkah governor lauds smooth flow of Hajis
Ramadan spending lifts small Saudi businesses in Diriyah’s Samhaniya
- Abayas, perfumes, heritage products in abundance
- Proudly Saudi, operators and owners tell Arab News
RIYADH: In the Samhaniya neighborhood, a pocket of Diriyah, old mud-brick houses have been restored and repurposed into small shops and studios.
Throughout Ramadan, the neighborhood sees a familiar surge: longer nights, busier walkways, and more spending tied to hosting, gifting, and evening gatherings.
At Artisana, a Saudi brand specializing in handmade crafts, that shift is reflected in customer interest and purchasing.
Inside the shop, shelves and tables are arranged like a gift gallery, with handcrafted ceramics including cups, bowls and lidded containers.
Alongside are ready-to-carry items including subha or prayer beads, scarves, and handbags with traditional embellishments of different regions of the Kingdom.
Operator Ghalia Al‑Mutairi told Arab News: “Artisana is a leading Saudi brand in handmade crafts, known for transforming skilled craftsmanship into timeless gifts that carry cultural meaning and emotional value.”
The store’s focus is on presenting Saudi handcrafted products through pieces that celebrate heritage and inspire pride, she said.
The brand has developed four main product lines to cover a range of gifting needs, from simple souvenirs to luxury items, curated to highlight each product’s cultural and aesthetic value.
Ramadan brings a noticeable rise in demand, Al‑Mutairi said, driven by a mix of social habits and the month’s reflective atmosphere.
“Gift-giving culture increases in Ramadan, and Artisana’s heritage character makes it an ideal option that expresses authenticity and Saudi generosity.”
A few doors down, the same Ramadan rhythm plays out in scent.
“Ramadan is known as a season, and naturally sales are higher then,” Suleiman Al‑Durayhim, who co‑founded Oud AlDurayhim with his brother, told Arab News.
The month, he added, pushes brands to highlight what they have and stand out in the market.
Oud AlDurayhim’s setting matches its stock: textured mud walls, carved wooden display towers filled with oud chips, and gift boxes arranged beside small burners.
Glass decanters and mixing vessels sit behind the counter, holding amber-toned oils prepared for customers who want a specific profile.
“We’ve had strong demand, especially here in Diriyah, not only across the Kingdom but across the Gulf as well,” Al‑Durayhim said.
The brand began as a small venture and later took on the family name. Among the scents on the shelf, one is kept especially close: Saad, a perfume named after his late father, carrying family memory into something customers can wear and share.
Nearby is Suweik, a restored building that operates like an indoor strip of local labels, which has become another Ramadan stop for shoppers.
Nour Ahmed, a sales associate at Ghain Abaya, told Arab News that the brand built its online audience before opening its first brick-and-mortar shop in Diriyah.
“The brand has been on Instagram since 2017, and this is its first physical shop, where there’s been a great turnout.”
She added that prices range from SR170 ($45) to SR550.
This Ramadan has brought a much stronger flow of visitors. “Last year there weren’t that many people, but this period there’s a lot of turnout, especially from foreigners too,” she said.
“A lot of Europeans come because they want to see the abayas, and they even want the hijab, and they kind of feel a sense of spirituality with Muslims.”
Samhaniya itself has grown over the last few years, Ahmed said. “At first it was only cafes and the guesthouse, but now it’s extended to the end of the street. It’s all Saudi brands.”
