shopping in a mall

He stressed that the center is visited by seven thousand customers a day, although the small number located in the center looks like students and young people. The parking lot is in the basement, which can accommodate up to 600 semi-deserted cars.

"When we opened the center, purchasing power was at its lowest level," he said, noting that leasing contracts had been signed for 60 percent of the center's space so far.

"But things are going according to our plan, the occupancy rate will reach 80 percent by the end of next year," he said.

Muhsin said the challenges are not only economic, but the concept of the shopping center, which sells high-quality goods at new fixed prices to many Sudanese who used to negotiate prices with sellers in an economy flooded with cheap Asian products

He had to persuade sellers to open shops on Fridays as families had time to shop and the capital's destinations were closed.

"We need to raise the awareness of customers and tenants and give them new ideas," he said.

Sudanese businessman Hassan al-Humeiri closed a flower shop in Khartoum last year for similar reasons and rare flower shops in Sudan.

"People here are buying roses for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day," he said.

The man opened a clothing store in the upscale neighborhood of Riyadh, selling Chinese goods to western brands such as Pierre Cardin with better quality than low-cost products sold in front of the Oasis Center.

The price of the shirt ranges from 80 to 120 pounds and this is much cheaper than the center of the oasis. But the shop is also empty of visitors and the owner wonders how much he can stay.