Saudi Arabia introduces new ‘decency’ rules for tourists

Posted on 1 October 2019

The notoriously closed country of Saudi Arabia has opened up to tourists earlier this month by announcing tourist visas for 49 countries (including for South Africans who are eligible for the new eVisas). Previously visitor visas were issued for specific visits such as for Muslim religious pilgrimages, for business or to visit family.

In conjunction with the new tourist visas, the Kingdom has made 19 punishable offences, that tourists should be aware of when visiting, public.

According to Reuters, these restrictions include dressing immodestly, public displays of affection, taking photos of others without their permission, spitting, littering and playing music at prayer time. Fines can range between 50 and 6,000 riyals (roughly R200 to R24,000).

‘The regulations are meant to ensure that visitors and tourists in the kingdom are aware of the law relating to public behavior so that they comply with it,’ The Saudi Arabia government said in a statement.

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The notoriously restrictive country has slowly been opening up to outsiders to encourage tourism to the isolated country. They have also changed decades old laws which limited the ability of women to participate in public life. These include women being given the vote in 2011 and being allowed to drive in 2018. The kingdom has now approved more relaxed dress codes for female tourists visiting the country. Women will not have to wear a head cover or abaya, but must still dress ‘modestly.’ This means covering shoulders and knees for both men and women.

Also read: Saudi women will soon be able to travel ‘without permission’

The law will be enforced by the Saudi police and not the religious anti-vice squad, the mutawa, which were previously responsible for enforcing religious laws.

While many muslim countries require visitors to dress modestly, especially when entering religious sites, those not following will largely be reprimanded rather than fined.

But Saudi Arabia is not the only country to have recently decided to implement stringent religious laws. Indonesia has recently proposed a premarital sex ban which would include tourists visiting the country, the ban would carry a one year jail sentence.

Full list of laws include:

  • Indecent behavior that includes an act of sexual nature.
  • Playing music in high volume inside a residential area and a complaint is made by one or more residents, without obtaining a prior approval.
  • Playing music during prayer times.
  • Non-removal of pet feces by its owner.
  • Littering in non-designated areas and spitting.
  • Occupying the seats and facilities designated for the elderly and the disabled.
  • Bypassing barriers to access public places.
  • Wearing improper clothing in public places. Dress code for visitors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be in accordance with the standards set for such purpose.
  • Wearing underwear and sleepwear.
  • Wearing in public places clothing that bear profane language or obscene images or symbols.
  • Wearing in public places clothing that bear language, images, or symbols that encourage discrimination or racism, or promote porn or drug use.
  • Writing or drawing, or any other similar act, on public transportation vehicles and on public walls without authorization.
  • Placing slogans or images on public transportation vehicles that encourage racism or promote porn or drug use.
  • Placing commercial labels and distributing flyers in public places without permission.
  • Igniting fires in non-designated areas in parks and public places.
  • Any act, whether physical or verbal, that may harm, frighten, or endanger any individual in a public place.
  • Skipping waiting lines in public places, unless permitted.
  • Exposing people in public places to harmful lighting, such as laser beams, that may harm, frighten, or endanger such people.
  • Taking pictures or videos, without permission, people, traffic accidents, crimes, or other incidents.

Saudia Arabia is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Al-Hijr archaeological site, with its 111 monumental tombs carved into stone cliffs in a similar fashion to those in Petra in Jordan.

Image source: @sedagaronta/Twitter






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