Mina, November 18: Around 120 young Saudis who graduated from a vocational training course in hairdressing are working around the clock at Mina cutting and shaving pilgrims’ hair.
“I am happy to have an opportunity to serve pilgrims for the first time in my life. I enjoy cutting pilgrims’ hair, which I feel will earn me a lot of reward from God as well as help me generate an income,” said Abdullah, a young Saudi in his 20s.
Abdullah, a resident of Makkah, is one of around 120 young Saudis who graduated from a haircutting course from the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). These young men are working around the clock at temporary salons set up in Mina to cut and shave pilgrims’ hair.
Some of them are from Makkah while others are from other cities and regions. An ardent desire to serve pilgrims has prompted them to work as barbers to earn livelihoods. What makes them special is the fact that these men are enthusiastic to do a job that an overwhelming majority of Saudis have an aversion toward.
“We are working at specially set up salons near the Jamrat Bridge by the Department for Municipal Investment Development at the Makkah municipality,” said Abdullah.
Abu Sultan, Abdullah’s colleague, sees the job as a realization of a long-cherished dream to serve the guests of Allah. A resident of Taif, Abu Sultan said serving pilgrims like this has changed his mindset and that he no longer shies from doing jobs like this.
“The Makkah municipality has set aside a special location to set up salons free of cost in Mina. The municipality has also furnished salons with chairs, machines, razors and shampoo at its own cost,” he said.
Salem Anbar, another young Saudi hairdresser, considers his job as a way of serving pilgrims. “It is also a big source of revenue for us. I charge SR10 to cut hair with a machine and SR15 to cut with a razor or to shorten with scissors. We are keen to abide by municipality regulations to use only clean apparatus and not reuse blades,” he said.
Anbar earns around SR2,000 a day in Mina and wants to set up his own salon afterward.
“Our readiness to work like this encourages other Saudis to also do the same. Wearing the same uniform and carrying out the same job without any competition or greed to earn more money creates a new attitude to work. It also gives us an opportunity to serve pilgrims,” he said.
–Agencies–