This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
Published on December 9, 2019, Saudi Arabia's government has taken a significant step towards greater social liberalization by announcing plans to eliminate segregated entrances for restaurants.
The move, which was announced on Twitter by the Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs, marks a significant shift away from the country's strict sex segregation laws.
Under the current system, restaurants are required to have separate entrances for single men and families, a rule that has been in place for decades.
However, the Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs has now announced that it will be eliminating this requirement, along with several others, in a bid to make the country more welcoming to tourists and foreign investors.
The move has been hailed by young Saudis as a major victory for social liberalization, but has been dismissed by arch-conservatives who argue that it goes against Islamic law.
Despite the backlash, the move is seen as a significant step forward for the country, which has been undergoing a major transformation under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Mohammed has been seeking to project a more moderate and business-friendly image of the country, and has taken a number of steps to liberalize the economy and society.
These include allowing mixed-gender music concerts, ending decades-long bans on cinemas and women drivers, and clipping the powers of hardline clerics.
