Saudi Arabia’s new heir to the throne has announced
plans for a beach resort where special laws will allow
women to wear bikinis instead of covering up their
skin.
As part of his drive to modernise the Saudi economy, Prince
Mohammed bin Salman has unveiled plans for a luxury Red
Sea resort on a stretch of coast line in the country’s
northwest.
Knowing that foreign visitors are unlikely to come to
beaches where women are forced to cover up in an abaya -
a robe-like dress - the government said the resort will be
“governed by laws on par with international standards”.
Saudi Arabia’s own laws on women are among the most
repressive in the world, with women banned from driving
and unable to travel without permission from a male
relative.
Women are expected to cover their skin and hair when
they are outside, although the laws are not uniformly
enforced. Last month, a young woman was arrested for
wearing a miniskirt in an abandoned village.
The Saudi woman was arrested after being filmed wearing a
miniskirt
Alcohol is banned under Saudi law and it is not clear if it
will be allowed on the resort.
Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund described the project
as an “exquisite luxury resort destination established across
50 untouched natural islands”.
“The Red Sea project will be a luxury resort destination
situated across the islands of a lagoon and steeped in
nature and culture.
“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,” the fund
said.
Construction is set to begin in 2019 and the first phase of
the project will be completed by 2022, according to the
announcement. It hopes to host a million visitors a year by
2035.
The Red Sea project is part of Prince Mohammed’s Vision
2030 - a plan to diversify the Saudi economy and wean it off
its dependence on oil.
Most Saudi women are expected to cover their skin and hair CREDIT:
REUTERS/FAISAL AL NASSER
Some foreign investors have applauded the young prince,
who is often referred to by his initials “MbS”, but others
have said the plan is unlikely to succeed.
Saudi Arabia may seen an opening in the tourism market
as neighbouring Egypt struggles to convince foreigners that
its own Red Sea resorts are safe.
The Egyptian holiday area has been wracked by a number
of attacks in recent years, including the bombing of a
Russian airliner that took off from Sharm el-Sheikh. Visitor
numbers have slumped as a result.
The Saudi statement stressed that the project “will be an
extremely safe and secure environment that will ensure the
protection of all visitors in accordance with the highest
international best practice”.
Most foreigners will be able to fly straight into the tourism
zone without a visa, another easing of Saudi law designed
to make the resort more attractive.
Prince Mohammed was elevated to the role of crown prince
in June after his older uncle, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef,
was stripped of the role.
Prince Mohammed is the son of the current king, Salman,
and already has broad authority over the kingdom’s
economy as well as its defence and foreign policies.
A spokesman for the public investment fund did not
respond to a request for comment.

http://fawoleblog..co.ke/2017/08/saudi-arabia-to-open-luxury-beach.html?m=1

Haba, Saudi Prince this is 2017, why not wait till Dec. 2018 before this announcement...
Me think its too early nah

Fcking hypocrites. Behind the curtains, they use all the hard drugs known to man and engage in all kind of depraved sex,but in public they always want to put women down in the name of purity anduka status quo.

Just because of money they want to promote immortality

This is not good enough bur...

it's a welcome development.

They are facing the reality of dwindling oil revenues and are now diversifying into tourism unlike Nigeria that's still spending money searching for oil in maiduguri