In a change of policy, Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that foreign unmarried couples would be able to take hotel rooms in the kingdom together.
Earlier, all couples needed to show identification documents proving that they were married. Now, following a loosening of regulations that saw the country open up to tourists for the first time, foreign visitors would not longer be required to show the same.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage tweeted the news, adding that single Saudi women would also be allowed to take rooms by themselves provided they show valid ID.
Unmarried Saudi couples, however, will need to provide ID of a maritial relationship, as the tourism authority had tweeted that "All Saudi nationals are asked to show family ID or proof of relationship on checking into hotels.”
The move comes after Saudi Arabia opened the doors to foreign tourists on September 27, as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reforms, aimed at moving the kingdom away from being an oil economy. As part of these reforms, the kingdom has attempted to rebrand its image, by allowing women to drive and travel without a male companion.
However, women tourists will still need to abide by cultural restrictions which includes avoiding revealing clothing. A list of offences coming under ‘public indency’ were shared by the tourism authority, urging tourists not to commit these. For women, these included clothing-requirements like avoiding “tight-fitting clothing or clothes with profane language or images” and covering shoulders and knees in public.
