Mohammed Al-Himms | Al Bawaba

Mohammed Al-Himms latest

“Gold sales have really taken a hit. I would say the market is down by more than 50 percent compared to the last Haj season,” Mohammed Al-Himms, store manager at MS jewelry outside Makkah’s Grand Mosque, said.

October 14th, 2013 - 10:09 GMT

Arab Spring dwindles interest in gold during Hajj

While restaurants and food stalls near the Grand Mosque remain busy, gold stores remained empty, with shopkeepers looking bored, flicking through magazines and playing with mobile phones.