Saudi Arabia Goes On Social Reform Spree: Issues New Public Behaviour Code To Attract Tourists And Investments  

Saudi Arabia's government has unveiled a series of public conduct rules that came into effect on Saturday (28 September) and include fines for 19 different types of infractions, including playing loud music in residential neighbourhoods, not picking up pet waste and spitting on the street.

Most of these infractions were already present earlier, but did not have exact penalties associated with them. Interestingly, the new guidelines also include a number of reforms through which some restrictions previously applied on citizens will no longer be followed.

The kingdom also stated that female visitors from other countries will not be required to wear the abaya, a body-shrouding robe that all local women must wear in public. Even so, foreign women will need to dress "modestly," said Ahmed al-Khatib, the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

All of these projects form part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program, which was unveiled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and is aimed at reducing the kingdom's dependence on oil.

(With inputs from IANS.)