Saudis start shopping as long holiday begins

Saudis start shopping as long holiday begins
The shopping rush is usual at the beginning of the summer vacation. (AN photo by Khalid Al-Khamis)
Updated 02 June 2016
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Saudis start shopping as long holiday begins

Saudis start shopping as long holiday begins

JEDDAH: With the start of one of the longest summer holidays on record, Saudi families have begun shopping for their children successfully completing their examinations, and for Ramadan, the two Eid festivals, weddings and other celebrations, according to a local media report on Wednesday.
Abeer Al-Zahrani said her family was getting ready for the wedding of her brother on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. She said the family holiday would have to wait until just before the start of the school year because they were too busy with the wedding arrangements.
Umm Abdulaziz said she only goes to the market to buy essential goods and not luxuries, especially during Ramadan, mainly because of the spirituality of the month. Her friend Sameera does the same: “This is because during the holy month there isn’t enough time to do anything.”
Fatimah Al-Harbi, a teacher, said she and her family buy everything before the start of the holy month. “We buy all the necessities at Jeddah’s shopping complexes. “We usually take advantage of the weekends and vacations to buy essentials for the house, work and school year,” she said.
Abdul Rahman Ali, an employee at a shopping complex, said: “All things are currently normal. The shopping rush is usual at the beginning of the summer vacation, but we expect it to gain momentum during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.”
However, Fatima Al-Qurashi, a member of the sociology faculty at King Abdul Aziz University, has urged citizens to show loyalty to the country by being thrifty in these economic times.
“Security is one of the basic rights of citizens and our beloved country is defending us against attacks. It is our duty as citizens to strengthen cohesion and social solidarity with our actions — to help those in need, not waste public money and refrain from buying expensive items. We should also volunteer to help with various services, for the benefit of the country and people.”