Massages have been banned in all Saudi tourism accommodation facilities aside from five-star and four-star hotels. Additionally, a set of specific requirements and rules have been added included to massage services that the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage state as “clear criteria in the fields of safety and discipline”.
Hotel operators themselves are prohibited from operating the massage services as well as external masseuses. Massage services are still allowed in high-end apartment facilities.
SCTH engineer, Omar bin Abdul Al-Mubarak, said the new ruling was there to enforce the Tourism Regulations in the country which place “importance on organising the relation between tourist facilities and services related to tourism activity and with anyone who carries out any activity related to this system or whoever benefits from it”.
