In the twang of a G-string

Red Sea Mall - Door 1 (of many)

While working in Jeddah around Christmas time in 2011 my knicker-elastic broke (metaphorically). Undaunted I donned my abaya (see ‘To Buy and Abaya’ October 2013) and hotfoot to the Red Sea Mall, a splendid monolith to commercialism and always crowded on account of the paucity of alternative entertainments in Jeddah.

Saudi ladies in niqab

I had seldom sought the ladies’ lingerie provisions on previous visits and mine eyes were to be opened! I located several establishments, all tucked on the lower ground floor and positioned firmly towards the Anne Summers rather than Marks and Spencer end of the market. Ladies in full niqab were rummaging enthusiastically through the fare while their menfolk waited eagerly outside. At that time, women were not permitted to work in shops in Saudi hence the icing on the cake was the posse of simpering gentlemen assistants earnestly avoiding eye contact as transactions were finalised.

The HAIA

Shortly after, a royal decree was passed (sadly nothing to do with my traumatic foray), the male assistants fired in the twang of a G-string and Saudi women were ‘permitted’ to work in ladies’ underwear shops. Male assistants were progressively banned from all retail establishments catering for feminine needs in the subsequent months. The transition created great consternation concerning possible contravention of sharia law and was the subject of much discussion in following weeks.

All was kept under the close and watchful eye of the HAIA which is The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia. As you would expect, the eminent oversight of the elderly Saudi gentlemen constituting the HAIA gave immense comfort to an English lady working abroad and in fear of further problems with her liberty-bodice!