Saudi Arabia says it welcomes LGBTQ visitors

Friday, May 5, 2023

As Saudi Arabia continues its drive to attract tourists, authorities in the country appear to be reaching out to a particularly lucrative section of the market: LGBTQ travellers.

The website of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) seems to have had its Q&A section updated to state that gay visitors are welcome in the kingdom.

It is not known exactly when the website was updated.

A spokesperson for the STA said the policy had previously been in place, but an archived version of the website on March 14, 2023 and before did not have the question and answer on the page.

Same-sex sexual activity is an offense in Saudi Arabia, according to Human Rights Watch.

According to the Human Dignity Trust, which campaigns for the rights of LGBT people around the world, trans people can also face prosecution in Saudi, with substantial evidence of the law being enforced and consistent reports of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people.

Whether LGBTQ travellers will feel comfortable travelling to Saudi, however, is another matter.

How Saudi Arabia is relaxing rules for tourists?

The Saudi Tourism Authority’s website has an updated section under its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page stating “Are LGBT visitors welcome to visit Saudi Arabia?”

The answer to the question reads, they don’t ask anyone to disclose personal details and never have. Everyone is welcome to visit their country.

There was no announcement of the change but accounts on a social media started circulating the news on Wednesday.

What are the rules for its citizens?

Like other Muslim countries in the Middle East, the Saudi Arabian administration forbids same-sex relationships.

This is due to the conventional interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, which outlaws homosexuality.

In Saudi Arabia, having same-sex partners is punishable by death or flogging, according to the Middle East outlet Al-Monitor. However, the kingdom’s anti-homosexuality laws are not consistently upheld.

The US State Department’s 2022 report on human rights stated that there were no known prosecutions for same-sex relations during the year.

According to the UK-based Human Dignity Trust, which monitors anti-LGBTQ laws around the world, it is challenging to gauge the level of repression the LGBTQ minority experiences in Saudi Arabia.

The organisation’s page in Saudi Arabia stated that social stigma and the absence of LGBT organisations limit reporting of discrimination.

Saudi authorities have recently taken various measures to target alleged LGBTQ activism.

Rainbow-coloured toys, according to Saudi officials last June, “promote homosexuality.”

Why it matters?

The most recent change occurs as the kingdom is experiencing considerable societal changes.

The kingdom in 2018 allowed women to drive again. However, just prior to the decision, several activists fighting for a woman’s right to drive were detained.

Abayas, which are lengthy garments that cover the entire body from head to toe, were abolished for women the same year.

The first beach in the country where women can wear bikinis opened in 2021 at Jeddah’s Pure Beach on the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia still imposes several customary limitations, such as the prohibition of alcohol.

The way LGBTQ people are treated in Saudi Arabia has damaged the country’s reputation abroad.

For instance, American golfer Phil Mickelson, who competes on the LIV Golf tour sponsored by Saudi Arabia, described Saudis as “scary” last year and said they “execute people over there for being gay.”

Strong outrage followed the remarks, leading Mickelson to issue an apology.

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