Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Hotels in the central area around the Grand Mosque in Mecca are fully booked for the last 10 days of Ramadan, according to industry sources.

Out of 162,000 rooms in hotels in the central area, 155,000 have been booked with advance payment, the sources said.

Riza Shalabi, director of reservations and marketing in a central area hotel, said that all 810 rooms in his hotels are fully booked.

He said the rate per room for the first 10 days of the fasting month was between SR1,950-SR2,500 including the Iftar meal.

Shalabi said the rate of double rooms during the last 10 days of Ramadan has gone up to SR28,000 including the iftar meal. “Rooms and suites were booked three months before the start of Ramadan. We are expecting a large number of businessmen from the Kingdom and abroad to come for Umrah during the last 10 days of the holy month,” he added.

Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a reservation and marketing staff in another hotel, said occupancy at present is about 98 percent while it was 90 percent during the same time last year.

He said his hotel rooms were 100% booked for the last 10 days of Ramadan at rates ranging between SR25,000 and SR42,000.

There are 947 furnished apartments and hotels in Mecca with 162,493 rooms to accommodate pilgrims and visitors.

*Saudi Gazette