Focus on safety as malls gear up for Eid festivity

By Joey Aguilar/Staff ReporterMalls in the country have geared up for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) which expects a large influx of visitors towards next weekend.Speaking to Gulf Times, mall officials assured the safety of Qatar’s residents and tourists from the neighbouring GCC countries who will be watching the unique shows during the annual festivity.The malls will be hosting exclusive shows such as Peter Pan (City Center Doha), Circus Canada (Al Khor Mall), Jungle Book (Lagoona Mall), Pinocchio (Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall), The Little Prince (Dar Al Salam Mall) and Meet the Nicktoons (Ezdan Mall).Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall general manager Feroz Moideen said they always want to ensure the safety of mallgoers by conducting fire drills twice a year. He noted that these kind of activities aim to increase the awareness on safety and security among its tenants and customers.“Besides having a well-trained team fully prepared for any emergency situation, we also regularly review building fire safety plan, fire warden responsibilities and general evacuation procedures and plans,” Moideen stressed.Some of the mock drills last for about 20 minutes and engage participants in a number of real life scenarios and demonstration.Security representatives and the mall’s support staff guide some 1,000 tenants and shoppers through emergency escape routes and fire exits if a real emergency situation happens.The drills are being held in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Civil Defence and Hamad Medical Corporation. Hyatt Plaza regularly hosts a number of unique shows every year as part of QTA’s Eid celebrations.Other malls in Qatar which host QTA events also conduct their own fire and safety drills regularly. Joerg Harengerd, general manager at City Centre Doha, said they hold weekly drills involving at least 40 staff and employees.“We do it section by section from different departments of the mall,” he pointed out. “Safety has always been our priority knowing that a lot of people are entering the mall every day and we host many shows, exhibitions and activities.”A large number of residents and families visit the City Center Doha to spend holidays such as the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.The Eid al-Fitr festival is one of the highlights of Qatar’s events calendar as it attracts visitors from around the region, looking for a get-away in a destination with shared culture and heritage, full of family entertainment options.QTA recorded a surge in the number of visitors from neighbouring GCC countries. Saudi Arabia visitors topped the list with 31% increase during the first five months of the year.