Saudi Arabia allows foreign men, women to share hotel rooms

Riyadh: Conservative Muslim Kingdom Saudi Arabia is westernizing under Crown Prince Mohammed Salman’s leadership.
With the launch of new tourist visa regime to attract tourists, against the previous rules, the Kingdom has now allowed foreign men and women to rent hotel rooms together without proving they are related, HT reports .
Not only foreign nationals but women, including Saudis, are also permitted to rent hotel rooms by themselves.
This move appears to pave the way for unaccompanied women, unmarried foreign women to mingle and stay with male partners together in the country.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage confirmed a report on Friday by Arabic-language newspaper Okaz, adding: “All Saudi nationals are asked to show family ID or proof of relationship on checking into hotels. This is not required of foreign tourists. All women, including Saudis, can book and stay in hotels alone, providing ID on check-in.”