How is Saudi Arabia attempting to balance its conservative laws with global events like the World Cup?

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Saudi Arabia is trying to balance conservative laws with global events by publicly welcoming visitors while keeping same-sex conduct criminalised

Saudi Arabia is signalling openness for LGBTQ visitors in the run-up to the 2034 World Cup through tourism messaging and a high-profile queer cruise planned for Jeddah. At the same time, homosexuality remains criminalised under the kingdom’s strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law, and activists describe a “double standard” between how foreigners and citizens are treated. The approach is therefore framed around visitor access and privacy rather than legal reform for LGBT rights.
A “welcome” message aimed at global visitors ahead of 2034
Saudi officials and tourism materials have used broad invitations for the World Cup period, including Visit Saudi’s FAQ question “Are LGBT visitors welcome to visit Saudi?” The answer states “Everyone is welcome,” alongside instructions that visitors respect local culture and follow Saudi laws. The same FAQ also says visitors are not required to disclose personal information and that the kingdom will respect visitors’ right to privacy.
A specific LGBTQ cruise plan for Jeddah in spring 2027
A US LGBTQ-focused travel company, VACAYA, has announced an “Arabian Nights” cruise for spring 2027 from Jeddah to Ain Sokhna in Egypt. The cruise is marketed to reassure customers that LGBTQ+ visitors can travel there, with cabin prices on the Emerald Kaia luxury super yacht ranging from US$9,900 to US$57,000. The cruise arrives as Saudi Arabia continues social reforms such as allowing women to drive, reintroducing cinemas, and welcoming non-Muslim tourists.
Reforms to reduce religious policing, while homosexuality stays criminalised
Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the power of influential clerics has diminished and the once-feared morality police have been muzzled. Even with these visible reforms, homosexuality is described as a potential capital offence under Saudi Arabia’s sharia-based legal system. The country also lacks a comprehensive written penal code for all crimes, meaning enforcement can be vague, while Amnesty International has reported high execution numbers in recent years without recording recent LGBTQ-related executions.
Enforcement appears uneven: private relationships vs public advocacy
Saudi activist Tariq Aziz describes “two Saudi Arabias”: one for foreigners that is more tolerant, and another for citizens that is more restrictive in the name of religious norms. He says he was detained from 2021 to 2022 for “promoting homosexuality” and for Twitter posts deemed harmful to public order, religious values and public morals, and he later received refugee status in the United States. Observers and Amnesty’s Middle East researcher Dana Ahmed indicate that authorities may “turn a blind eye” when same-sex relationships remain strictly private, while supporting LGBT rights or speaking publicly is criminalised; Ahmed also said the most recent NGO-documented cases from 2022 fit “freedom of expression” rather than a crackdown on the LGBT community.

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How is Saudi Arabia attempting to balance its conservative laws with global events like the World Cup?

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