UPDATE | 12:22pm:
Doha News spoke to a City Center manager who said the mall will be closed for the next two days.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Interior tweeted than an unnamed shopping center has been closed due to non-conformity to safety regulations:
في إطار التعاون بين الدفاع المدني والمنشآت التجارية تم صباح اليوم الجمعة إغلاق احد المراكز التجارية لحين استيفائه لمتطلبات السلامة
— وزارة الداخلية – قطر (@MOI_Qatar) June 15, 2012
It did not give a time frame for the mall’s reopening.
It is to be noted that MOI’s has yet to tweet anything in English about the closure, and the English-language contact there who Doha News spoke with more than an hour ago appeared to have no knowledge of the closure.
That leaves Landmark mall as the go-to mall destination this weekend, but beware:
@dohanews its crazy here in landmark!! Never seen so many ppl on a friday afternoon…food court is buzzing. Wots goin on?
— Qaisar (@qsibtain) June 15, 2012
—
Doha’s most popular mall (especially after the Villaggio fire) appears to be closed today.
While normally the Carrefour supermarket in the mall would be opened on a Friday morning, guards posted outside are telling customers otherwise.
Just tried to go to Carrefour at City Centre #doha. Guard at main entrance stopped us. When asked said “mall not open today”. Anyone know?
— Rachel Morris (@rachelannmorris) June 15, 2012
With the mall management office closed for the weekend, it’s hard to get a straight answer.
We talked to a mall employee, who said it might open at 2pm this afternoon, but others have been told otherwise:
@rachelannmorris @omarc @escapetoqatar no it is closed for entire day for inspection. checked with friend who stays at residence next door.
— vani saraswathi (@vanish_forever) June 15, 2012
@ojazeera @rachelannmorris @omarc @escapetoqatar guard said whole day apparently.Guess a place that big can’t be done in a few hours
— vani saraswathi (@vanish_forever) June 15, 2012
@dohanews Was there now,apparently some security checkups going on but no confirmation yet on expected opening time or date..
— Mak (@mcramr) June 15, 2012
What gives? Let us know if you know more!
Credit: Photo by Nathanm