MUSCAT: For many months, Ruwi High Street was looking empty due to the coronavirus related restrictions but with the Covid-19 scare subsiding, customers have slowly started to return to Oman’s commercial capital, making shopkeepers a happy lot. 

Speaking to The Arabian Stories, several shop owners have confirmed that there is an uptick in customers. “To say we are happily running the business will be an understatement but yes things are getting slowly back to normal,” said Reehan Majid, who has been running a shop in Ruwi Souq for the last 12 years. 

Shops dealing in readymade garments, footwear, stationery items, mobile accessories and even small eateries that were massively affected during the pandemic is hoping to bounce back in the coming months. “Some shops were closed because they couldn’t continue due to non-payment of rents. We have suffered a lot during this pandemic. We really hope the cases continue to reduce and more people get vaccinated so that we can get our lives back to normal,” Majid added. 

According to Indian businessman Rakesh Nair, shop owners in commercial markets such as Ruwi and Seeb must get their staff vaccinated. “It will certainly ooze confidence in customers to return to these popular markets. How long we will continue this way? Life has to go on and we need to get things back to normal. Taking the vaccine is the only way to fight Covid,” Nair pointed out. 

Mohammed Sajid, who runs a shop in Ruwi Souq, said many shopkeepers are struggling to meet both ends. “For us the last many months was a struggle to survive. We had to pay the rent, staff salary and suppliers as well. I really hope things go back to normal. Ruwi Souq has a history and to keep it as Oman’s traditional commercial market, we need your support in getting the customers back. Let’s work together for this,” Sajid added.