Saudi Arabia eases restrictions on women taking hotel rooms

RIYADH: 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 & National Heritage posted the new requirements on Twitter on Sunday. The easing of stringent regulations governing social interactions in the 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.