Economy Hejaz Vilayet

the economy of vilayet relied heavily on annual hajj , pilgrimage, muslims on world travel cities of mecca , medina. importance of pilgrimage such majority of townspeople, residents of mecca , medina, relied on windfall pilgrimages daily sustenance. many residents worked guides pilgrims, camel-brokers, built , provided pilgrim accommodations, sold or distributed zamzam water. others worked in maintenance of masjid al-haram , masjid al-nabawi sweepers, doorkeepers, servants, prayer leaders, preachers or candle-cleaners. of these occupations, numerous pilgrimage guides. these guides had task of organising pilgrim s accommodation, transportation, acting translator , guiding pilgrim through rituals , prayers required. aside payment pilgrim, guide able make transactions in name of pilgrim.

hejaz s primary exports dates, henna, hides, meccan balsam, gum, nacre , zamzam water. there few natural resources in region, vast majority of products had imported, practice continued until twentieth century.

the mercantile centre of region port city of jeddah, principal port of red sea. port lay on coffee trade route yemen , trade route india, ships arabia, india, africa , southern europe regularly passed through port, majority of european merchants setting offices in port. customs duties collected @ port source of income both vilayet , emirate of mecca. opening of suez canal in 1869 had negative impact on trading in jeddah because steamships dock @ smaller ports such yenbo on red sea coastline.

due region s intense heat , scarcity of rainfall, hejaz not support agriculture-based economy. agriculture possible in oases , on irrigated outskirts of major towns, dates being primary crop grown. semi-nomadic tribes engage in agriculture or herd sheep , camels.