RIYADH – Restaurants and cafes in Saudi Arabia are no longer required to have gender-segregated entrances, officials said, in a further easing of social restrictions in the Islamic kingdom.
Eateries have long required one entrance for single men and another for women and families, in a country where the once-powerful religious police zealously enforced sex segregation in public places for decades.
The ministry of municipalities and rural affairs said on Twitter Sunday it was eliminating several requirements for restaurants, including the need for "an entrance for bachelors and a separate entrance for families".
It was unclear whether a restriction on seating inside restaurants will also be removed.
Restaurants are currently segregated into a "family" section for those accompanied by women and a "singles" area for men, though many have quietly taken down the barriers in recent years amid the kingdom's sweeping liberalisation drive.
The latest reform was hailed by young Saudis but dismissed by arch-conservatives on social media, with one Twitter user saying it went "against sharia", or Islamic law.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has sought to project a moderate, business-friendly image of his austere kingdom as he seeks to boost investment.
Prince Mohammed has clipped the powers of hardline clerics as he pursues a modernisation drive that has allowed mixed-gender music concerts and ended decades-long bans on cinemas and women drivers.
Until three years ago, the religious police elicited widespread fear in the kingdom, chasing men and women out of malls to pray and berating anyone seen mingling with the opposite sex.
Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (APPC) - Pakistan's Premier News Agency
Pakistani rupee remains unchanges against US dollar in the open market on March 18, 2024, Monday.
In the open market, the US dollar was being quoted at 278.7 for buying and 281.65 for selling.
Euro moves down to 303 for buying and 306 for selling while British Pound hovers around 356 for buying, and 359 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED remains stable at 75.8 whereas the Saudi Riyal saw minor increase, with new rates at 74.05.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 278.7 | 281.65 |
Euro | EUR | 303 | 306 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 356 | 359 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.8 | 76.55 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 74.05 | 74.5 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 182.7 | 184.5 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 741.89 | 749.89 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 204 | 206.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.78 | 39.18 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.92 | 41.32 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.69 | 36.04 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.37 | 3.48 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 908.8 | 917.8 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 59.59 | 60.19 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 171.07 | 173.07 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.67 | 26.97 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 724.62 | 732.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.7 | 77.4 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 206 | 208 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.27 | 27.57 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 315.8 | 318.3 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.79 | 7.94 |
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