Comments on: I have to admit that we, Saudis, are addicted to …

By: raincity

raincity — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 04:22:16 +0000

What’s next? Would you need to become certified good guy as well?

By: nisa

nisa — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:46:42 +0000

wow. the manpower to implement that. i once had to guard some lane from people using it, & it’s tough. what more getting them pay money. anyway, if you want to know, i think young saudi men should learn to work hard. this will be a great motivator, since you need money to enter the malls. anyway, if you work double job, maybe you won’t even have time to go to the mall. yup.

By: Basem

Basem — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 07:07:44 +0000

Ahmad

Methinks that contemporary Saudi is turning into an anthropological zoo of some sort, with it’s unusual mix of aspects and influences that render such observation as boringly normal!

It’s all about dodging up solutions for unanticipated or persistent problems: where else in the world does Bluetooth technology find itself negatively associated with social misconduct, in which venues such as Dr.Cafe asks its customers to refrain from using Bluetooth in their cafes (what; you’re telling me not to use my headset too?)!

Similarly, many purposely wandering deprived male youth flock into the fertile land of shopping malls, how can they filter them up, have them pay for their entry! (as if a SR25 will stop a determined wealthy guy) but you have to credit the novelty of calling them a “pre-paid shopping voucher”, now that’s smart, probably some smart expat thought of it!

More on Saudi from an expat perspective over here: (Shameless self promotion)

Random pictures from Riyadh
Feeling like a foreigner at the local McDonalds!
I saw a woman! Or: Single men's social misery in the depths of the desert

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:21:18 +0000

This isn’t a fee for entrance, the writing on the coupon:
“Advance Payment Coupun”

Which mean you can use it to buy stuff, i.e. if you are buying it doesn’t cost anything, but if you are mall rat, it would cost you 25 SR (=6$).

mall rat:
“A person, especially a teenager or young adult, who frequently passes time wandering through shopping malls.”
http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/m/m0063450.html

By: sarzoory

sarzoory — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 11:29:35 +0000

This is pathetic.. I can’t believe they actually take advantage out of the lifestyle of KSA.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 07:50:32 +0000

You mentioned Al Serfi mall, if it is true, and if you ever been to that Mall, then you know the reason why. These are not normal guys, the minute they see a woman, and it really doesn’t matter whether she is with her husband or her fiancé or whomever, they turn into salivating dogs. Maybe this not the right way to go about it, but something, had to be done to put a stop to this bull $hit. The only other way is to hire guards with tranquilizing guns, with very strict order to shoot, whenever they see women being harassed.

By: AlMadi

AlMadi — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:59:49 +0000

I don’t go to malls…maybe I would if they paid me SR 25.
Wait, lemme print a coupon.

By: CoDeR

CoDeR — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:28:35 +0000

Well, I wouldn\’t pay and I suggest that all the guys do the same if this was applied on a large scale….. Cause paying even a single Riyal implies:
1-That I admit being one of those \”bad\” guys.
2-Helps generalizing the bad image over the rest of the Saudi youth.
3-Let alone pumping those fatty bank accounts of such mall owners in a way that reminds me of medieval feudalism more than anything else.

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:58:27 +0000

The story from Asharq Al-Awsat that I linked to above mentions Al Serafi Mall as one example, and says there are other malls.

By: BaSSeM

BaSSeM — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:38:22 +0000

Are you serious?!
I didn't hear of such thing yet
I personally would tell them to go and **** themselves but the sad thing is that there will be many who are willing to pay for such a stupid thing

any idea which mall?!