The Riyadh Municipality is to shut down male-only massage and health spas. The campaign will start in the two weeks.
The municipality will investigate improper behavior in men’s massage and spa centers and determine whether licensing, operating and health violations have occurred.
Police and the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) members are expected to accompany municipality field inspectors during the field trips. The campaign is expected to shut down about 90 percent of spas providing services.
In 2011, the municipality made similar attempts to regulate the health and safety conditions of massage and health spas in the city. Several spa center were cited and closed for health violations, using fake health certification and hiring illegal unskilled workers.
Crackdown on spas
