Comments on: Makkah and the Rise of Saudi Greed

By: Saudi Arabia: Is Too Much Emphasis Placed on the Commercialism of Makkah? « American Bedu

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:13:51 +0000

[...] Jeddah. What has remained of the old Makkah near the Haram is going to be razed and destroyed to make way for the new commercialized [...]

By: Saudi Arabia: It is Okay to Deface Makkah but Don’t Let Women Drive | SHOAH

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:51:10 +0000

[...] luxury facilities do not come without a price to the people of Makkah. In order to make room for the “luxury hajj and umrah” facilities, residents have been [...]

By: Saudi Arabia: It is Okay to Deface Makkah but Don’t Let Women Drive « American Bedu

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:59:29 +0000

[...] luxury facilities do not come without a price to the people of Makkah. In order to make room for the “luxury hajj and umrah” facilities, residents have been [...]

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:36:47 +0000

@Hussain,

Sorry for the late response; I’ve been away from the computer. I am referring to individuals who had been tenants of places which had either been torn down or sold. The tenants were renting rather than having owned their apartment. These specific individuals have suffered and included members of my own extended Saudi family.

By: Hussain

Hussain — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 08:36:49 +0000

American Bedu. Who told you the government doesn’t guarantee an alternative place for those who were asked to leave? They get two options, either to go and find a similar apartments with reasonable price, or they get paid cash the amount of the current value of their apartments. I hope you seek for truth in more sources, trustful ones.

Thank you

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:22:39 +0000

Thanks Marryam.

By: Marryam

Marryam — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:33:18 +0000

I just wrote an essay about the corporatization of Makkah–you can read it on my blog.

What a horrible, but nonetheless expected, state of affairs.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:38:32 +0000

Hala – thank you for your comment. I was not aware of the “collusion” between the beggars and the police. Now that is indeed pitiful. Where is there since of honor and dignity, especially on the part of the police? And I know…beggars who beg at Makkah believe people will be more charitable towards them because they are at one of the most holiest places.

I know one can not stop progress and do not blame residents who choose to rent out their homes or provide transport to pilgrims. I do dislike though how many long term residents are being unceremoniously displaced from their homes so landlords can earn more money. There just aren’t enough choices and places for the residents, many widowers and many with families, to go to within Makkah.

By: Hala

Hala — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:35:25 +0000

American Bedu, a great post as usual, as a native of Jeddah, this phenomena is not strange for Makkah people, we used to see many people giving up their own houses and apartments during holy seasons to guests for a handsome sum of money, some of the Makkah people actually took this as a source of living, you can also see Makka youth offering transportation and rides to pilgrims and visitors at times when no personal cars are allowed in the premises of Haram area, needless to say, many as well make this as living, My concern is not the expansion work which would compensate makkah people very well, I agree with om aziz on the flimsy state of beggars around the area which would disrupt the whole spiritual experience, this is the actual sign of greed, I have talked to some of those little girls, and the way they operate is actually shocking, they avoid the police, but if an officer chooses to capture them they would simply ask their mom to give him what he wants to be released back the next day or so, officers as well make this as a living, since they take about a 1000-3000SR from each child guardian to be released, that’s why this phenomena can’t disappear, and more beggars, children and amputee will join the area to draw more profit for their guardians, families back home and of course those police officers on lousy salaries and big families, talk about the actual greed…

By: Global Voices in Italiano » Arabia Saudita: l’imprenditoria avanza anche alla Mecca

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:19:51 +0000

[...] American Bedu [in] descrive l'avanzare delle pratiche imprenditoriali alla Mecca, il più sacro dei luoghi islamici, dove i residenti locali vengono costretti a lasciare case e appartamenti che poi vengono affittati ai pellegrini a prezzi gonfiati. [...]