Fancy a holiday in Saudi Arabia? Avoid these public decency offences

The kingdom launched a new visa regime allowing holidaymakers from 49 states to visit one of the world’s most closed-off countries

Fines for violations, including littering, spitting and playing music at prayer times, range from US$13 to US$1,600

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Renovated buildings at the historic city of Diriyah, a Unesco World Heritage Site, in Riyadh. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:18pm, 28 Sep 2019Updated: 8:22pm, 28 Sep 2019

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it would issue fines for 19 offences related to public decency, such as immodest dress and public displays of affection, as the Muslim kingdom opens up to foreign tourists.

The Interior Ministry decision accompanies the launch of a visa regime allowing holidaymakers from 49 states to visit one of the world’s most closed-off countries. Till now, most visitors have been Muslim pilgrims and businesspeople.

Violations listed on the new visa website also include littering, spitting, queue jumping, taking photographs and videos of people without permission and playing music at prayer times. Fines range from 50 riyals (US$13) to 6,000 riyals (US$1,600).

“The regulations are meant to ensure that visitors and tourists in the kingdom are aware of the law relating to public behaviour so that they comply with it,” a government media statement said.

It said Saudi police had the sole responsibility for monitoring offences and imposing fines, a comment that appeared to marginalise the kingdom’s religious anti-vice squads whose authority to pursue suspects or make arrests was curbed in 2016.