Saudi Arabia, which is considering opening a liquor store for non-Muslim diplomats for the first time, has undergone a series of social reforms in recent years under the leadership of Mohammed bin Salman, the conservative Muslim country’s crown prince.

AFP examines five recent major societal changes in the powerful oil-rich kingdom, which is still widely criticized by human rights activists.

Reopening of cinemas

The first public cinema screening in 35 years took place in Riyadh in April 2018, months after the lifting of a ban that had plagued the sector for more than three decades.

At the time, Saudi Arabia planned to have more than 300 cinemas with more than 2,000 projection screens by 2030.

However, like television programs, films shown in cinemas are subject to censorship, which usually considers topics related to sex, religion and politics taboo.

Women driving

In the monarchy, which strictly adheres to Islamic law, women were able to drive for the first time in 2018 after decades of a worldwide ban. Since then, thousands of women have started driving without needing the permission of a “guardian” (husband, father or other male relative), and some have even become drivers.

Until June 24, 2018, women were banned from driving in the country, where traditionalists for decades believed that allowing women to drive would promote gender mixing and depravity.

Travel without permission

In August 2019, Saudi women over the age of 21 were allowed to obtain a passport and travel abroad without the prior consent of a male “guardian”.

Opening for tourists

The kingdom first began issuing tourist visas in September 2019 as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent resources, announcing it wants to attract 30 million tourists each year by 2030.

At the time, he warned that tourists who violated “public decency”, particularly in terms of dress or behavior, would be fined.

Visas can be issued online and on arrival to the Kingdom for nationals of 49 countries, including the USA, Australia and several European countries. Until then, the kingdom issued visas only to pilgrims, expatriates, and from 2018 – to spectators of sports and cultural events.

Mixed upbringing

Public events (school, beach, etc.) involving both sexes have long been banned and only recently allowed in some parts of Saudi Arabia.

Men and women can now study together in certain classes or swim together at certain beaches, whereas previously the moral police forbade people of the opposite sex to meet in the same public place.

Coexistence has also been allowed at certain pop concerts and sporting events as the country bids to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup (AFP).