Women allowed to rent hotel rooms in Saudi tourism push

Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority has issued new guidelines allowing women to rent hotel rooms without a male guardian’s presence, and letting foreign men and women share a room without proof of marriage.

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage posted the new requirements on Twitter yesterday.

The easing of stringent regulations governing social interactions in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom comes after Riyadh launched its first tourist visa scheme, as part of efforts to diversify the country’s oil-reliant economy.

Under the new regulations, women will be allowed to rent hotel rooms with proof of identity – an ID card for Saudi women, residency card for foreign residents or passport for tourists.

The same would be required of foreign couples, without the need for them to present a marriage certificate.

Previously, women needed permission from a male guardian to rent a hotel room.

Women will now also be allowed to rent hotel rooms without any form of identification if they have a male guardian present who does have proof of identity, the commission said.

The move follows reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the past year, including lifting a ban on cinemas in the kingdom and the world’s only ban on women driving.

Critics have noted limits to the reforms, and point to last year’s killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the reported torture of several detained women’s rights activists.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to increase tourism to contribute up to 10 per cent of gross domestic product. For the launch of its new visa, the country highlighted five Unesco World Heritage Sites, contemporary art sites and natural sites including the Red Sea, desert and mountains.

Previously, visitor visas were issued for specific reasons only, such as for Muslim religious pilgrimages, to visit family or for business.

The one-year, multipleentry visa scheme allows for stays of up to 90 days and is the first time foreigners can visit solely for the purpose of tourism.

As part of the drive to attract foreign visitors, the kingdom is easing strict dress codes for tourist women, requiring shoulders and knees to be covered in public but not demanding they wear the full-body abaya.