Saudi Arabia is a country that recently opened for women tourists and one that I didn’t ever expect to visit. However as rules have recently eased I jumped at the opportunity. It is still very conservative and I had to research just what I would need to wear. I learned that a hijab is a scarf covering one’s head; an abaya is a loose outer garment and the burqa covers from head to toe.

I discovered that as a tourist I would only need to be careful to not wear anything tight or opaque and make sure that my shoulders, elbows and knees were covered. The morality police have amended some of their strict dress codes and other social mandates that were usually implemented more harshly on women. In addition mandatory gender segregation and a ban on women drivers have been abolished. And the guardianship system which forbade women from travelling or even leaving the house without a male family member has been revised too!

The vision for their future under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) include plans to build a modern economy not totally dependent on oil. A big majority of their population is under the age of 30 and everything seems to be technologically advanced, maybe too much so for this aging adventurer.

Tourism is being aggressively promoted, in fact getting my visa online took less than 30 minutes. With both their social and economic development in addition to the remarkable infrastructure and culture, Riyadh is on the fast path to the traveler’s bucket list. The skyline is filled with incredible buildings. And their national museums depict every era of their interesting culture.

Alcohol is still forbidden but I’m told they are experimenting with allowing it at a resort in the South of the country. But my hotel had beautiful cocktail and wine glassware and were happy to fill them with mocktails and alcohol-free wine!

There is an abundance of shopping too! Fancy malls and markets galore are popping up everywhere.

While these steps are definitely encouraging they still have a reputation for harsh treatment of any activism or dissidence. I’m thinking it is best to tread lightly while visiting.