Mecca is, and always has been, a city of traders and merchants. It was like this even long before the advent of Islam, when traders from three continents would stop in Mecca to barter goods, set exchange rates, etc.
It's no surprise then that commerce remains a big part of the annual Hajj. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the brand new, state of the art Abraj al Bait shopping complex. Visitors can now enjoy multiple food courts, high-end fashion and jewellery stores, and even grab a Starbucks - literally just steps away from the Great Mosque.
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