Tag: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia to no longer segregate women and men in restaurants

Saudi Arabia will no longer be segregating men and women at restaurants, uplifting decades of conservative restrictions.  Women in Saudi were compelled to use separate entrances from men or sit behind partitions at restaurants. The decision, which essentially erodes one of the most visible gender segregation restrictions in place, was quietly announced on Sunday by the Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry.

Pakistani manpower export to Saudi Arabia up by 207%

Manpower export from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia has recorded a significant increase of 207% during the first 10 months of 2019  as compared to last year. According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, more than 258,215 Pakistanis travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of employment in different sectors while only 84,091 went to Saudi Arabia looking for different opportunities. 

Saudi and UAE plan on setting up $70 billion crude refinery in India

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are planning on setting up a refinery in the western Indian state of Maharashtra that will cost at least $70 billion. The figure exceeds the initial $44 billion estimate previously announced in 2018. The refinery and petrochemicals complex, which would secure the supply of 600,000 barrels per day of Saudi and Emirati crude oil for India’s market.

Saudi Arabia to issue new host visa for families of expats

The Saudi government is going to add a new visa category ‘Host Visa’ in its newly-introduced regime. It  will allow expatriates in the kingdom to invite their family members on personal sponsorship for up to 90 days and will be free to host their guests anywhere. The authorities are working on the new visa mechanism which will cost about 500 Saudi Riyals for a year. 

Saudi Arabia may allow women to perform Hajj without ‘mahram’

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is mulling possibility of allowing women to perform Hajj without a male guardian. According to Arab News, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is conducting researches to issue visit visas for both tourism and Umrah purposes, and this process is expected to pave the way for allowing women to come without a mahram (male guardian).

Saudi Arabia allows women to serve in armed forces

Saudi Arabia has now announced that it will allow women in the kingdom to serve in the armed forces as it embarks on a broad programme of economic and social reforms. The move is latest in a series of measures aimed at increasing rights of women in the kingdom, allowing women to serve as private first class, corporal or sergeant.

Saudi Arabia allows foreign couples to share hotel rooms

Saudi Arabia is allowing foreign men and women to rent hotel rooms together without even proving they are related, after the conservative Muslim kingdom launched a new tourist visa regime to entice tourists. Similarly, women including nationals are also permitted to rent hotel rooms by themselves which was against the law previously. These regulations would attract tourism and allow the Saudi government to diversify its economy. 

Pakistani pilgrims to pay 2000 riyal tax on their second Umrah

The Saudi government has introduced a rule which obligates pilgrims to pay a tax of SAR 2000 for performing Umrah again. Under the new rule, an individual will only be able to avail the tax-free visa facility two years after their previous Umrah. The policy has been introduced to facilitate pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Saudi Arabia sacks Pakistani doctors with MS, MD degrees

Saudi ministry of health has rejected Pakistan’s MS/MD degree, claiming it lacks structured training programme, a mandatory requirement to hire medics against important positions. This comes as a shock to hundreds of highly qualified medics who are now rendered jobless. After KSA, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also removed the degrees from eligibility list of highest paid tier.

Saudi women can now travel without a male guardian’s approval

In a landmark decision, Saudi Arabia has allowed women to travel without seeking male guardian’s permission. Under Saudi guardianship system, adult women were rendered as legal minors and their “guardians” — husband, father and male relatives — were allowed to exercise arbitrary authority over them. “A passport will be granted to any Saudi national who submits an application,” said a government ruling.