Hajj pilgrimage brings boon to mecca homeowners

The annual Islamic hajj brings Meccans the opportunity to cash in on the influx of pilgrims, tempting homeowners to move out and rent their houses for handsome returns.

More than 2.5 million pilgrims are descending on the Muslim holy city for the world's largest annual assembly, and they all need lodging.

"Meccans benefit from the pilgrimage as they earn in a month enough money for a whole year," said Fawzi Fatani, 45, who owns several houses in the western Saudi city.

Fatani said most of Mecca's inhabitants move to rooms built on the roofs of their houses, or to annexes, in order to rent out their proper houses or apartments to pilgrims.

Source: UK.News.Yahoo.com