Saudi Arabia will allow foreign female tourists to shun headscarves and abayas
Saudi Arabia will allow foreign female tourists to shun headscarves and abayas
Female tourists visiting the ultra-conservative kingdom will be allowed to go without wearing the body-shrouding abaya robe that is still mandatory public wear for Saudi women.
3 min read
The kingdom will ease its strict dress code for foreign women [AFP]
Foreign women will be allowed to shun the kingdom's strict dress code worn by local women, Riyadh said on Friday, after it announced it will start offering tourist visas in a bid to open up to holiday makers as part of a push to diversify its economy away from oil.
Female tourists visiting the ultra-conservative kingdom will be allowed to go without wearing the body-shrouding abaya robe that is still mandatory public wear for Saudi women, tourism chief Ahmed al-Khateeb said.
Foreign women, however, will be required to wear "modest clothing", Khateeb added, without elaborating.
"Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country," Khateeb said in a statement.
"Visitors will be surprised... by the treasures we have to share - five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a vibrant local culture and breathtaking natural beauty."
Kickstarting tourism is one of the centrepieces of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform programme to prepare the biggest Arab economy for a post-oil era.