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RIYADH: Prices of sacrificial animals are soaring as residents throng to Riyadh’s cattle markets ahead of Eid Al-Adha on Friday.
The markets are swarming with buyers and sellers, and the festive mood is evident, with public sector offices having started the Eid Al-Adha holiday last Friday, while a six-day holiday will begin on Thursday for the private sector.
Residents browse for cattle to slaughter, an important ritual during this festival of sacrifice. Goats, sheep, cows and camels are among the animals slaughtered in commemoration of the Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail to show obedience to Allah.
When Ibrahim was about to obey Allah's order, He told Ibrahim to sacrifice a sheep instead.
The tradition of sacrificing an animal during this holiday commemorates this noble gesture.
But many people are concerned about the soaring prices. Shabbir Ahmed, a buyer in Al-Azizia district, which has a big cattle market, said prices at the market are higher than in previous years.
Mahmoud, a trader at the market, cited hikes in fodder prices as the reason for the soaring animal prices. 
The Kingdom imports a huge number of sacrificial livestock for Eid Al-Adha, given the number of pilgrims who perform Hajj every year.
Municipalities across the Kingdom have mobilized efforts to organize slaughterhouses, allocate points for slaughtering, and temporarily allow public kitchens to undertake the process to avoid the hazards of random slaughtering.
The price for slaughtering is fixed at SR100 ($26.67) in most of the Kingdom.