Dates and Zam Zam

Zamzam

• Zam Zam can no longer be filled in your own bottles when travelling back home
• Must be from zamzam distribution plant , also available at airport (at time of writing this) from the baggage packers outside. Usually the travel agents purchase from them as it is easier. Sells for around SAR20.
• Comes in 5lt round bottles, which are vacuum sealed and then boxed
• Usually only 5lt per person allowed on airlines
• Manhandling of boxes is common, particularly at RSA airports
• May be useful to take broad tape and a marker along to further seal boxes and mark them with your details
• Do not place zam zam inside your bags

Dates

• Dates are best bought in Medinah
• You may want to take along a cooler bag (Soft type) for fresh Ruthab dates  (Sukhary, Rothana etc)
• Date markets are common but they are not always cheaper or fresher there.
• Taibah centre (Lowest level) in Medina has a few shops which generally stock good quality dates. They have excellent ranges, including coated/fancy dates. They are busier than the date market so the stock is generally fresher. There are a number of date markets in Madinah but not all of them are cheap or have fresh stock.
• There are also a number of people who will come to your hotel with samples and they will even offer to courier it back home. These people are usually recommended through your travel agent. However, they are not always cheap or have a wide range. There may be procedures/issues with local customs when couriering goods back home.
• Good/Common variants to purchase are :
• Ajwah (range from SAR 60 to ± SAR 150/kg for largest sizes)
• Safawi 
• Ambar
• Sukary - Ruthab
• Rothana - Ruthab (you can find these sold of the branch at Masjid Quba)
• Deglat
• 
  

For dates in medinah: 

• Mufti Ayoob Jeena 054 477 3131

• Ml Musa 056 279 6987