Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Print
Email
Discuss this article (1 Comments)Grand Mosque hotels hike rates for holy month
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 01 September 2008
HIGH COSTS: A view of the Grand Mosque in Mecca could cost you up to $3,500 a night during Ramadan. (Getty Images)
The price of a double room in a hotel overlooking the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during the month of Ramadan has rocketed to up to $3,500 per night.
That's the top price for a weekend rate while even on weekdays, visitors can expect to be charged more than $1,000.
In addition to the increase in prices, all hotels and furnished apartments in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque have been fully booked for the past two months.
“There is not a single vacant room nowadays,” hoteliers told Arab News on Monday.
They added that rooms for the last 10 days of Ramadan are being booked in package deals.
According to real estate brokers, the prices of hotel rooms and furnished apartments in Makkah have also rocketed, increasing by 60 percent when compared to the previous year.
Pilgrims are reported to be shocked at the high price of hotels and apartments and are now opting to live away from the Grand Mosque where the price of accommodation is cheaper.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Supply and Demand!
Posted by Sinan on Sunday 7 September 2008 at 18:45 UAE time
Room rates have gone up everywhere! Why are you surprised, that in this Billion$ area it would be any less. It is all about supply and demand! As more citizens get richer, the prices of the best hotels are going to go up too, as there are only a limited amount of rooms available. It is the same with housing as the prices go up in the Right areas, people sell their homes for a profit and move inland.
Don't be surprised, if they start auctioning the rooms at a later date to the highest bidder!!
Posted by Sinan on Sunday 7 September 2008 at 18:45 UAE time
Room rates have gone up everywhere! Why are you surprised, that in this Billion$ area it would be any less. It is all about supply and demand! As more citizens get richer, the prices of the best hotels are going to go up too, as there are only a limited amount of rooms available. It is the same with housing as the prices go up in the Right areas, people sell their homes for a profit and move inland.
Don't be surprised, if they start auctioning the rooms at a later date to the highest bidder!!
Click here to post a comment
MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
- Healthcare: Kuwait swine flu fatalities rise to 24
- Politics & Economics: Mideast needs to improve insolvency rules - World Bank
- Travel & Hospitality: ADNH sees net profit up by 28% but hotels suffer
- Politics & Economics: Abu Dhabi economy seen growing 4% in 2010
- Culture & Society: Philippines cancels licences after Dubai jobs scandal
SHARE PRICE CHECK
RELATED STORIES
Focus On Ramadan 2008
3 stories- Qatar pupils facing new holiday dates for Ramadan
28 Oct '08 | News - Tuesday first day of Eid Al-Fitr - official
29 Sep '08 | News - Schools get next week off for Eid
24 Sep '08 | News
The Grand Mosque
| 3 stories- Mosque expansion to change face of Mecca
9 Jan '08 | News - US $1m Grand Mosque renovation approved
29 Sep '07 | News
Mobile
