Christian Tourists Warned: Don't Show Bibles in Saudi Arabia

In the early-to-mid 80s I worked for a defense contractor here locally that had a large job site in Saudi Arabia. We were one writing team out of a handful, and our editing HQ was on the beltway around DC.

The guys on-site in Riyadh would send us outrageous stories of items they'd managed to have their wives here in the states ship to them. I thought those guys were allowed to take a Bible in their luggage with them when they went from the US to the jobsite, but they had to keep that pretty quiet - personal use on their off time & no sharing it with the natives.

Still, this article sounds like the Saudis have decided to tolerate some western ways for the sake of tourist dollars. Women being allowed to travel without a man/men, and being able to wear "normal" clothes is real different. I have always thought the Saudi royal family was more westernized & better educated than most of the rest of Middle Eastern folks.