Customers stand in queues to buy famous foul dish in Jeddah.

In every street throughout the city of Jeddah, you can find shops selling foul and tamees. Large numbers of customers gather around these shops, particularly after the Asr prayer, until the final moments before Maghrib.

This often causes traffic jams in the streets as they gather to make their purchase.

Foul shops in Jeddah are considered as focal points in the city during Ramadan, as many people visit various stores throughout the city to buy different types of foul.

Traffic jams are caused by increased number of customers thronging these shops. The fact is that a plate of foul dressed with olive oil and spices is considered a must at the iftar table for many Saudis.

Speaking about the dish, a seller said, “We prepare several kinds of beans. We offer the dish after mixing it with several kinds of spices”

Alqalaba, a popular type of foul, is mixed with tomatoes and cooked onions, while the regular foul dish is usually served without any other additions. When asked about the most popular type of foul sold during the month of Ramadan, one seller said the plain foul dish sells the most, as well as the SR2 dish dressed with olive oils.

With ghee added, the plate can sell for SR3, while other types can reach up to SR10.

Customers start arriving at foul shops throughout the city nearly an hour before breaking the fast, with crowds increasing as Maghreb time gets nearer.

High temperatures do not stop customers from standing in long queues and some are even accompanied by their kids as they visit the shops carrying their plates.

Abu Rakan, who was waiting in line to purchase foul, when asked about the number of times he buys the dish during Ramadan, said he comes daily as foul is considered by his family as the main dish for iftar.

Meanwhile, sellers expect their sales of foul to increase by 70 percent during the holy month not only in Jeddah but also throughout the Kingdom.

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