Naturally, they feel disappointed at being deprived of their rights to shop or even enjoy a meal.
“They are assuming that we will misbehave without giving us the chance to prove them wrong,” says Mohammad, one of the barred men.
Faisal, who is only 16 years old, is banned from entering malls without a female relative.
“I am so devastated, I have no sisters and my mother is a working lady. Do you reckon I need to actually hire a female relative?” he said sarcastically.
Believe it or not, deals are often made near mall entrances, where a boy might pay a girl to act as his relative to get inside the mall.
The Kingdom Mall in Riyadh is one of the most in-demand places for young men, as it has a number of shops with branded and fine clothing for men.
Businessman Abdul Rahman said he is constantly faced with restrictions whenever he tries to enter the center.
“If I cannot shop where I desire, there is no point opening men’s shops in big malls,” he said.
Yet the management at Kingdom Mall claims men are not actually prohibited from entering.
Assistant General Manager Majdi Al-Tamimi indicated security guards could be acting on their own authority.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal has criticized the practice of banning young men from shopping centers and asked officials to try and find a solution in order to help the younger generation gain access to recreational facilities.
General Manager of Al Faisalia mall Peter Giblin also denied the existence of any regulations banning young men.
However, the Riyadh shopping center’s security manager Faisal Abu-Thneen confirmed those dressed in a socially unacceptable manner were barred, according to regulations from the Amara-Riyadh Principality.
“We might sometimes limit access only when the mall is crowded with families over the weekend. But it is not a 100 percent restriction. The mall is open to all, especially during the day,” he said.
On the other hand, Sahara mall restricts entry to young men despite not following a mandate from authorities. They can enter the shopping center during the morning at weekends but are banned throughout the weekend.
This means the vast majority of school and college students are restricted from entering the mall. The management says the rule prevents young men from harassing families and acting inappropriately.
“I admit we are not following any strict regulations, but rather we have listened to the recommendations of the Commission for promotion of virtue and preventing of vice,” said one manager at the center, who chose to remain anonymous.
As the victims of unspecified regulations and restrictions, the young men feel resentment as they look for alternative ways of entertaining themselves during the vacation.
“The vacation turns into a nightmare as we cannot go out. We are constantly turned away from malls, public gardens and restaurants as if we are a crowd shunned within its own society,” says Yousef, as he is prevented from entering a mall.
