Samar Al-Miqrin

Al-Jazirah

Men’s gyms can be seen everywhere in Saudi Arabia. In almost every street or neighborhood, you will probably find one or two. The same is true for Moroccan massage services for men. However, it would be rare to find a place that offers women massage services, just as it is rare to find a women’s gym. There are a few such places but they are so expensive that only rich women can afford them.



 A man pays an average SR300 a month for a gym subscription and this fee covers all the facilities in the gym, including swimming, Jacuzzi, etc. A women’s gym, which offers limited services and does not have the same facilities as a men’s gym, charges an average SR1,000 a month for women. Moreover, women’s gyms are not located in convenient neighborhoods; they are usually found at distant locations so that it takes a woman a long time to get to the gym. Men’s gyms, on the other hand, are easily reached because they are conveniently located.



 A man can get a Moroccan massage for a reasonable fee, and he has many places to choose from. This service is difficult for women to find  because only a few places offer it. Moreover, the massage session costs the man between SR100-SR200 while for women it is SR500. Clearly our society goes out of its way to spoil men.



There is discrimination in the services provided to men and women which is why those offered to women are so expensive. Furthermore, there is a reluctance to admit that women have a right to such services. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry assigns the term “tailor shop” to most businesses that offer services to women. Sometimes there is no connection between the services offered and the name of the shop. In other words, you may find a tailor shop which is in fact a gym and has sports facilities inside. It is high time that the ministry puts an end to such practice.