Saudi Arabia has been one of the most closed off countries in the world. Now, they’re on a mission to change all that. The Kingdom has launched their much talked about tourist visas and for the first time ever welcomed the first ever tourists to the country in September 2019.
Now, the conservative country has announced that they will allow unmarried foreigners to book and share hotel rooms together when they come to visit the country for tourism reasons.
Previously, single men and women have been able to share a room in Saudi Arabia only if there was proof that they were related to each other as sexual relations outside of marriage has been banne din the country.
However, these rules do not apply to Saudi Nationals. Saudi couples are still required to share a family ID or proof of relationship upon checking into the same hotel room, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.
“This is not required of foreign tourists. All women, including Saudis, can book and stay in hotels alone, providing ID on check-in,” they said in a statement.
While alcohol still remains banned in the Kingdom, female visitors have a much relaxed dresscode and while they must dress conservatively they are not required to wear the abaya just to cover the knees and shoulders.
These new reforms are part of a new tourism focused drive that’s hoping to attract more international visitors to Saudi Arabia.
Take a look at what the country has to offer here.
