Jeddah, Oct 8 (IANS): The Haj pilgrims this year have spent an estimated SR2.2 billion (over $586 million) on gifts, a top official of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has revealed.

According to Ibrahim Batarji, chairman of JCCI's Industrial Committee, the pilgrims spent SR1,500 on an average.

“How much a pilgrim spends on gifts depends on his economic condition and the living standards back in his home country,” Saudi Gazette quoted Batarji as saying and estimating that the actual average can range between SR1,300-SR1,600.

Batarji noted that the constant hike in prices and the depreciation of some currencies in the Arab and Muslim worlds should be taken into consideration when conducting such estimates.

The majority of pilgrims love to buy their loved ones rosaries, prayer rugs, white clothes, and jewellery. The reason why the spending is not as high as the previous years can be attributed to the lower number of pilgrims who came for Haj this year, who are estimated to be around two million, he informed.

Pilgrims love to buy their gifts in Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah while some pilgrims like to purchase gifts at Mina, said Abdulhakim Al-Saadi, a businessman who owns several shops.

The major charm among pilgrims are Russian products because they are of high quality compared to the Chinese products, that are usually of low quality.

Abdulaziz Obaid, another businessman, said pilgrims tend to buy gold in Makkah and Jeddah because they trust jewellers in these cities. About 10-15 percent of gifts bought by pilgrims is gold.