Peak Selling Season of Saudi Shemagh

 A seller displays dozens of shemaghs, as sales reach their peak at the end of Ramadan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A seller displays dozens of shemaghs, as sales reach their peak at the end of Ramadan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Peak Selling Season of Saudi Shemagh

 A seller displays dozens of shemaghs, as sales reach their peak at the end of Ramadan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A seller displays dozens of shemaghs, as sales reach their peak at the end of Ramadan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Experts in the manufacturing and import of the Saudi shemagh revealed that this traditional dress has reached the highest annual sales season, recording sales estimated at about 900 million riyals annually.

They pointed to new consumer trends, especially among the younger generation, as a number of international brands have joined the race to acquire the biggest share of the market.

The shemagh is a traditional garment for men in the Arabian Gulf region and some Arab regions in Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Yemen, where it is considered part of the culture men’s clothing, whether at work or during social events and others.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, CEO of Al-Imtiaz Company Ltd., Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan, said that the volume of the shemagh market ranged between 700 and 900 million riyals annually.

He added that between 9 and 11 million shemaghs and ghutras were sold annually, stressing that the percentage of sales during Eid al-Fitr season and other holidays represented nearly 50 percent of the annual sales volume.

Regarding market and consumer trends, Al-Ajlan indicated that the majority of consumers of the shemagh and ghutra belonged to the young generation born between 1997 and 2012.

He noted that international brands, such as Pierre Cardin, S.T. Dupont, Cerruti 1881 and others, have joined the shemagh and ghutra market, contributing to raising the quality and specifications of the product.

For his part, Nasser Al-Hamid, manager of a shemagh shop in Riyadh, explained that the sales increase in the last ten days of Ramadan every year and reach their peak in the last two nights before Eid al-Fitr.

Hamid also noted that the market has witnessed, in the last ten years, a variety of new designs and brands, paving the way for a greater competition between companies in terms of quality and price, and in marketing campaigns.



Attractive Environment Drives Surge in Private Tourism Facilities in Saudi Arabia

Visitors flock to one of the events of “Riyadh Season 2024” (SPA)
Visitors flock to one of the events of “Riyadh Season 2024” (SPA)
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Attractive Environment Drives Surge in Private Tourism Facilities in Saudi Arabia

Visitors flock to one of the events of “Riyadh Season 2024” (SPA)
Visitors flock to one of the events of “Riyadh Season 2024” (SPA)

As Saudi Arabia experiences a surge in visitor numbers, there is a growing need to expand tourism infrastructure to keep up with demand.

In this context, the private facilities sector has emerged as a practical solution, contributing positively to increasing the income of local citizens who own these facilities.

This growth is reflected in the significant rise in the number of licenses granted by the Ministry of Tourism, which saw an increase of 333% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

In January, the Ministry of Tourism announced a new mandate requiring booking platforms and apps to exclude or refrain from listing unlicensed private hospitality facilities.

This move aims to ensure the quality of services provided to both local and international tourists across the Kingdom. The Ministry warned that any platforms violating this directive would face penalties.

This initiative is part of a campaign which seeks to enforce compliance with tourism licensing standards and regulations, ensuring facilities meet the criteria outlined in the Kingdom's Tourism Law and its accompanying regulations.

According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism, the number of licenses issued for private hospitality facilities reached 8,357 last year, compared to 1,929 licenses in 2023.

Under the Kingdom’s Tourism Law, a private hospitality facility is defined as “any furnished and independent property unit, owned by an individual, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, and offering daily accommodation services for a fee.”

Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al Rasasimah emphasized that the growing number of licenses issued for private hospitality facilities reflects the ministry’s commitment to enabling individual investors in the hospitality sector to obtain the necessary operating licenses.

This initiative aims to enhance the quality of services provided.

He added that these efforts are part of the "Guests Are Our Priority" campaign, which seeks to strengthen compliance with licensing and classification standards and ensure facilities meet the conditions set out in the Tourism Law and its regulations.

Dr. Salem Baajajah, an economic expert and professor at King Abdulaziz University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the significant growth in hospitality and tourism facilities is a result of the Ministry of Tourism's efforts to attract foreign investors.

He added that this expansion reflects a growing demand from international investors seeking to capitalize on opportunities in Saudi Arabia, aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of increasing the number of tourists visiting Saudi Arabia.

He further explained that the tourism sector is experiencing notable growth, contributing to higher revenues for local citizens.