Saudi Arabia opens doors to tourists with new 'relaxed' rules

28 September 2019, 14:19

Saudi Arabia has announced measures aimed at attracting more foreign tourists
Saudi Arabia has announced measures aimed at attracting more foreign tourists. Picture: PA

By Asher McShane

Saudi Arabia has announced measures aimed at attracting more foreign tourists, including an easing of rules that all women must wear a full-body covering in public.

The new tourist visa scheme, is part of efforts in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil.

The one-year, multiple-entry visa scheme unveiled late on Friday applies to visitors from 49 countries including the United Kingdom.

The visa information website indicated an easing of strict dress codes for visiting women, requiring shoulders and knees to be covered but not demanding they wear the full-body abaya.

Saudi Arabia saw profound change last year as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reforms, including the opening of the first movie theatre and allowing women to drive.

But there is a hard limit to the reforms, as revealed by last year's killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents and the reported torture of several detained women's rights activists.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

American Easter egg

White House’s annual Easter egg roll to be attended by 40,000 people

Barbers in Paris

Proposal to ban discrimination over a person’s hair passes first legal hurdle

Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian Authority names new government following pressure to reform

Arvind Kejriwal

Opposition leader Kejriwal locked up for further four days, court rules

Resident clears rubble from home

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks

Pope Francis

Pope urges priests to avoid ‘clerical hypocrisy’ in Maundy Thursday speech