Saudi Arabia to open luxury beach resort where women can wear bikinis

Saudi Arabia to open luxury beach resort where women can wear bikinis

Saudi Arabia is to open a new luxury beach resort where women will be allowed to wear bikinis.

pic. google.com

The country's new heir to the throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced a Red Sea resort on a stretch of Saudi Arabia’s northwest coastline.  

It comes as part of the royal's attempt to modernise the Saudi economy.

Saudi Arabia’s rules on women are among the strictest in the world. Women are not allowed to drive and are unable to travel without permission from a male relative.

Women are also expected to cover their skin and hair when they are outside, meaning bikinis are traditionally out of the question.

But the government has said the resort will be “governed by laws on par with international standards”.

The resort, spread over 200 miles of golden beaches and 50 “untouched natural islands” will allow women to sunbathe in bikinis even when men are nearby.

“It will set new standards for sustainable development and bring about the next generation of luxury travel to put Saudi Arabia on the international tourism map.”

Tourists would also not need a visa to travel to the destination, and the resort will offer activities such as parachuting, trekking and rock climbing.

The development is set to begin in 2019 and the first phase is predicted to be completed by 2022. 

SOURCE