RIYADH: The landmark decree allowing Saudi women to drive has received the seal of approval from the Council of Senior Scholars, the Kingdom’s highest religious body that advises King Salman on religious matters.
“King Salman, granted by God the responsibility of protecting his people and the nation’s interests, and preserving Islamic values and national interests, does not waver in achieving the national interest in accordance with Shariah,” the council’s secretariat said.
“The senior scholars decided to adopt and approve the royal decree. King Salman only does what is best for his nation.
“The scholars’ advisory opinions focused on the virtues and vices, and not the act of driving itself, which is an absolute right which no one should be deprived of. King Salman should study the matter and look at it from all angles.
“King Salman studied the negative side of not letting women drive and thus, with the Council of Senior Scholars’ approval, issued the royal decree, as he did not find any reason not to. King Salman issued the royal decree preserving all women’s rights, in order to protect the national interest.”
Letting women drive in Saudi Arabia ‘does not conflict with Shariah,’ say senior scholars
Letting women drive in Saudi Arabia ‘does not conflict with Shariah,’ say senior scholars
Saudi authority sets new standards for beach operators on the Red Sea
JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has announced a new regulatory framework for beach operations, redefining beaches as managed operating sites rather than informal recreational spaces, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The framework introduces standardized requirements for beach operators, focusing on licensing, safety, risk management and service quality across coastal tourism activities.
Under the regulations, beach operations will be permitted only through licensed entities, with license issued for two-year periods.
Renewal applications must be submitted at least 30 days before expiration. The authority said the system is intended to bring consistency to beach management and provide operators with clearer operational timelines.
The framework applies along more than 1,800 km of Red Sea coastline and establishes a unified national approach to regulating beach activities. The authority said no beach operation will be allowed without an official license.
The initiative supports the authority’s broader objectives to develop a coastal tourism sector that contributes SR85 billion ($22.66 billion) to GDP by 2030, creates approximately 210,000 jobs, and attracts 19 million visitors, the SPA noted.
To ensure a smooth transition, the regulations will come into effect one month after their announcement, while existing operators will be granted a one-year grace period to comply.
Safety forms a central pillar of the new framework. Licensing conditions include environmental permits, insurance coverage, approved safety plans, defined activity zones, and assessments of beach capacity.
Operators will also be required to provide licensed lifeguards, safety equipment, and systems for incident reporting and analysis.
The requirements extend to infrastructure and operation standards, including compliance with the Saudi Building Code to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and structural safety.
Operators are also encouraged to align with international benchmarks such as Blue Flag standards and the ISO 13009:2024 for beach management, the SPA added.
The authority said this framework is designed to reduce operational risks, improve oversight and support the sustainable development of coastal tourism.
Unified requirements reduce operational risks, minimize inconsistencies, and improve the sector’s ability to attract financing and scale sustainably.
