DAMMAM: The Eastern Province municipality shut down 1,024 violating women’s facilities during the past year during inspection visits of women-only establishments and businesses in Dammam, Alkhobar and Dhahran.

The inspections, carried out in cooperation with the unit of health awareness at the municipality’s General Department for Environmental Health, were to ensure facilities were complying with health and safety standards, including ensuring all employees have certificates proving their health is good, they have permission to practice their professions and that all tools used are sterilized.

Municipality spokesman Mohammed Al-Safyan said the inspections aim to “increase health awareness among employees, spread a culture and understanding of safety standards, prevent the spread of illnesses and improve the health of individuals and society.”

He said more than 1,000 violating establishments were identified last year, while 1,076 violating products were confiscated and destroyed. Warning citations were issued to 553 establishments, while 327 were required to sign pledges. Of the 1,833 inspection visits carried out, 11 were based on complaints, and 14 establishments were closed down, six of which are in Alkhobar and eight in Dammam.

According to Al-Safyan, Dammam led in terms of violations, with 659 violating establishments and 604 confiscated products.