Demand for abayas and perfumes surge in Bahrain as Eid approaches

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Report by Zahra Ayaz

With Eid Al Fitr just around the corner, retailers across Bahrain are reporting a significant surge in demand for abayas and perfumes.

They told the Daily Tribune that shoppers are flocking to the stores to purchase these essential items for the upcoming festival, recording a 60% to 70% surge in sales.

JidAli, a bustling shopping centre, is home to over 100 abaya shops alone, with each store reporting sales of over 150 pieces of abaya during the Ramadan season.

This brings the total sales of abayas in JidAli to more than 1,000 pieces.

According to sellers there, the surge in demand is fuelled by the need for women to wear floor-length, mostly black attire during Ramadan and Eid, which is an essential part of the religious tradition.

While many women choose to purchase brand-new abayas to celebrate Eid with their families, the price can range from BD10 to BD60, depending on the fabric and the level of elaborate embroidery.

The most popular abaya material among women is the 'nada', with shopkeepers stocking up on several hundred meters of this fabric in preparation for the festival.

Perfumes are also an essential part of the Eid celebration, with many believing that wearing good perfume is crucial to complete the occasion.

The Manama Souk is lined with hundreds of stores, almost all of which are occupied to capacity, offering a wide range of perfumes to cater to the demand.

As the festivities approach, it is clear that abayas and perfumes will continue to be in high demand.