In the run-up to Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup, there are signs the Gulf monarchy is tentatively seeking to reassure LGBTQ visitors — with a queer cruise scheduled to arrive in the Red Sea city of Jeddah next year.
The ultra-conservative kingdom, home to the birthplace of Islam, has in recent years tried to soften its forbidding image through social reforms, including allowing women to drive, reintroducing cinemas and welcoming non-Muslim tourists.Under the direction of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, the power of its influential clerics has diminished and the once-feared morality police have been muzzled.
And although homosexuality remains criminalised, the authorities have softened their rhetoric in a bid to establish themselves as a global destination.
In a sign of changing times, the US LGBTQ-focused travel company VACAYA has announced an “Arabian Nights” cruise for spring 2027 from Jeddah to Egypt’s Ain Sokhna, promising its customers they will “make and live history”.
“For decades, LGBTQ+ visitors could scarcely imagine setting foot in the Kingdom,” the company said on its website, where cabins aboard the Emerald Kaia luxury super yacht go for between $9,900 and $57,000.
Yet, it added, as Saudi Arabia seeks to “reshape its international image in anticipation of hosting the 2034 World Cup, a quiet but notable shift has emerged: visitors of all identities are being welcomed, provided they honour local customs”.
– ‘Everyone is welcome’ –
Saudi authorities did not respond to an AFP request for comment on the cruise.
But officials have stated that everyone would be welcome in the kingdom for the global football spectacle.
Even the FAQs section of Visit Saudi, the official tourism website, includes the question, “Are LGBT visitors welcome to visit Saudi?” The answer: “Everyone is welcome.” “We ask that visitors respect our culture and traditions and follow our laws,” it added. “Visitors are not required to disclose their personal information, and we will respect visitors’ right to privacy.”
Like Qatar, which in 2022 hosted the first football World Cup in the Middle East, Riyadh faced criticism over its LGBTQ policies when it was selected at the end of 2024.
In Doha, some supporters and a journalist were prevented from entering stadiums because they were wearing rainbow-coloured clothing.
Homosexuality is a potential capital offence in Saudi Arabia, known for its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law, which forms the basis of its entire judicial system.
The country does not have a comprehensive written penal code for all crimes, meaning enforcement can be vague.
The kingdom has ranked third-highest for the number of executions in the world over the past three years, according to Amnesty International.
But the organisation has not recorded any recent LGBTQ-related executions.
– ‘Two Saudi Arabias’ –
For Saudi activist Tariq Aziz, the queer cruise is an example of double standards.
