Construction workers banned from UAE shopping mall

The owners of the Al Bawadi Mall in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) plan to ban construction labourers from the shopping centre following complaints of anti-social behaviour, according to The National newspaper.

Labourers will not be allowed to enter the Al Bawadi Mall on weekday evenings and weekends, said the report, following reports that several men had "been accused of staring and taking photographs of women", falling asleep on benches and driving a vehicle into the entrance of the mall.

The national quoted Khalid Shraim, the mall's marketing manager, as saying, "This is not a total ban. Labourers are allowed to use the mall's rear entrance during the day and early evening, but they cannot come to the mall on weekends.

Mr Shriam also told the newspaper the mall's owners were considering building a smaller shopping centre that workers from the nearby labour camps could use.

"We are considering building a mini-mall for them with stores that sell less expensive items that they can afford on the minimal salaries they earn. We are human beings dealing with human beings and realise that labourers also have shopping needs," said Mr Shraim.