Women have identified spots – usually small malls – where they meet and exchange information and hold friendly conversation on various topics affecting their lives. One such small mall is the Hawa Ladies Center, which houses a saloon, a coffee shop, an Internet cafe, ladies tailor shop, stores for designer clothes and shoes, and other small corner stores. A women's gym is also opening soon. “Women come here to meet, chat, have coffee, get pampered in true diva style by trying out exclusive designer wear, and exchange information on things that interest them,” said Maya Haya, owner of the Hawa Ladies Center. “Women come here with innovations on matters affecting homes, kids and their busy husbands,” she added. Another small place where women congregate “to catch up with their lives in the warmth of the coffee lattices in the company of friends” is the Al-Nafea Ladies Center, owned by well-known fashion designer Fawzia Al-Nafea. The saloon is world-class in beauty treatments and offers spa services from body sculpting to cellulite and wrinkle treatment. “It is a fairly new concept to have so many facilities under one roof where women can avail the facilities of the saloon, surf in the Internet cafe, chat in the coffee shop and also shop for exclusive clothes, bags and jewelry,” says Haya. Women of all age groups, including expatriates, love to frequent these places. “I have ladies of various nationalities coming here, also American ladies staying in Aramco and elsewhere. They come to relax and have a good time and we are happy to provide it,” Haya said. __
