Fahd Al-Manaee Saudi Gazette MAKKAH – The period between mid-November and the end of December is generally considered the best time to perform Umrah as hotel prices are the cheapest all year. Affordable hotel room rates, which according to some estimates, decrease by up to 60 percent, and fewer crowds in turn mean citizens and local residents often wait for this time of year to visit the holy city and perform Umrah. Residents of Makkah also welcome the relative quiet the city experiences this time of year and visit the Haram in large numbers. Residents say they prefer to be present in the Haram when there is less crowding in the mosque as Haj pilgrims have departed the country and Umrah pilgrims have not begun to arrive. Residents typically stay away from the Grand Mosque at other times in order to give foreign pilgrims an opportunity to perform their rituals in comfort. Waleed Abu Sab'ah, Chairman of the Hotels Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said with the exception of major ones, most hotels in Makkah are experiencing low occupancy rates these days. Abu Sab'ah estimated the drop in Makkah hotel charges at over 60 percent. He attributed this to the low season when there is a drop in the number of foreign Umrah pilgrims in Makkah. “Many hotels wait for the low season to arrive before they start routine maintenance work. The preparation to receive Haj and Umrah pilgrims all year will begin now,” he said. Meanwhile, work for the expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Ka'aba) has started with construction crew removing the tiles and other accessories, such as lighting and fans, from the upper level of the mosque. Yahya Al-Zahrani, head of the Holy Mosque security forces, said the ongoing work has not affected the flow of worshippers and Umrah performers to the mosque. The expansion of the mataf will take place in three phases.
