إغلاق 3 مجمعات تجارية كبرى في جدة

The Jeddah Municipality closed 3 major shopping complexes in the governorate to push for improvement and development. "Okaz" monitored the closure of the complexes, which include dozens of stores with various activities. Sources revealed to the newspaper that the closure process occurred after many observations were noted, and the managements of the complexes were informed of the need to rectify these issues before they were finally closed.

The complexes include several activities related to wedding dresses and their preparation, women's abayas, accessories, cosmetics, and household tools, in addition to tailoring and ready-made clothing. One of the closed complexes includes dozens of stores specializing in computers and surveillance cameras, and the closure also included a medical complex and a center for selling food products, as well as another for the maintenance of household electrical appliances.



Visitors to those complexes were surprised by teams from the General Administration for the Development of Commercial Complexes and Markets in the Jeddah Municipality closing them and evacuating their visitors; with the aim of achieving development and improving the business environment in a way that meets aspirations and general objectives, and raising the compliance standard to address visual distortion issues. "Okaz" attempted to contact the municipality for more details but did not receive a response by the time the report was prepared.

However, sources revealed to "Okaz" that the main observations on the closed sites included the absence of a license for games inside one of the complexes, lack of maintenance for escalators and elevators, poor air conditioning, lack of care for restrooms, and poor cleanliness, while none of the closed sites complied with issuing licenses for computer-related activities.

Sources from "Okaz" indicated that the inspection and monitoring activities carried out by municipalities include several criteria specific to commercial complexes and markets, including infrastructure and safety, development of commercial centers, compliance with the Saudi building code, and application of safety standards such as availability of emergency exits and fire-fighting systems, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, and providing sufficient parking spaces for cars.

The monitoring also includes several requirements such as licensing, location and area, additional and homogeneous activity requirements, commercial signage requirements, architectural requirements, facade and overall appearance requirements, stair and external sidewalk requirements, flooring, ceilings, and lighting.