RIYADH: Stores in Madinah are seeing a surge in pilgrims shopping for gifts as they visit the Prophet’s Mosque and important historical sites in the holy city after performing Hajj. Dozens of gold shops near the Prophet’s Mosque have seen an increase in demand for jewellery, and pilgrims have also been purchasing clothes, prayer mats, rosaries, and different types of dates grown in Madinah. Shop owners reported that rosaries, prayer mats, and Saudi thobes are bought by pilgrims to gift to their loved ones back home.  Nearly every pilgrim who visits the holy sites returns with dates to distribute among family and friends, and the most popular are the Ajwa and Safawi varieties, according to sellers. Fresh dates also proved popular among pilgrims.