Tomorrow is the final day of the Autumn Fair, Bahrain’s biggest annual shopping extravaganza at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) at Sanabis which has been attracting on average 15,000 daily visitors, writes Anasuya Kesavan.
More than 700 traders from China, Egypt, Kuwait, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, UAE and Bahrain are enticing customers with an array of bargains including curtains for BD1 and BD1.5 for hand-painted ceramic plates.
Among the happy shoppers was Nabila Abdulaziz from Muharraq who said: “I am a regular and come every year and on every day of the fair. I buy clothes, foodstuff, bags, cheese and dry fruits and many other things.
“The cost is also reasonable, most food items are fresh and this year it seems to be cheaper than ever.”
Ana Hernandez, from Hidd, added: “I always look forward to the Autumn Fair. Everything is cheap and of good quality. Last year I bought a whole set of king size duvet covers and pillow set for BD16 and this year I got similar items for BD10. My sister bought a whole set of curtains for BD5. It offers a great opportunity to revamp your house on a budget.”
One of the most popular stores was a dry fruits store from Yemen that was selling spices, dry fruits and other such food items. A Chinese trader close-by attracted hoards of customers too to his stand by shouting the price for comforters in Arabic.
Shoppers were also making a beeline for the selection of amber and silver jewellery from Poland. Husband and wife Grzegorz and Elzbieta Kosiel said they were regular exhibitors who had placed a stall in the same place at the nine-day fair for the past 18 years.
Grzegorz, a gemologist, said: “Amber is very popular in this part of the region for its legendary healing powers and we offer handmade lockets, earrings, pendants, stones and prayer beads.”
The 23rd fair will be open from 10am to 10pm today and tomorrow. Tickets for 700 fils can be purchased from the kiosks at the BIECC. Children under five are admitted free.