Saudi Arabia has exempted foreigners from showing family records when registering for hotel rooms after the kingdom announced a new tourist visa system to attract tourists.
Women, including Saudi women, could rent hotel rooms without a mahram.
The General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage confirmed that all Saudis are required to prove the family register when registering in hotels. Foreign tourists are not required to do so, and all women, including Saudi nationals, can book and stay in hotels without a mahram once they show their identity card upon registration, she said.
Saudi Arabia opened its doors last week to foreign tourists from 49 countries as it seeks to develop the tourism sector and diversify its economy away from oil exports. In this context, the Kingdom authorized the visitors not to wear the black abaya but obliges them to wear modest clothes.
The authorities aim to attract 100,000 visitors a year by 2030.
Most foreign expatriates to Saudi Arabia have so far been limited to resident labor, their families, businessmen and pilgrims who receive a special visa to visit Mecca and Medina.