Saudi Arabia has officially permitted the celebration of non-Muslim religious holidays, including Christmas. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This decision was approved by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud. According to local media reports, this decision is part of a new approach in the kingdom's religious policy and a process of re-examining the interpretation of Islam based on modern requirements.
The Crown Prince emphasized that this policy is based on the principle of respecting the freedom of belief of followers of other religions. As a result of this reform, more than 13 million non-Muslim residents in Saudi Arabia, mainly Christians, have gained the opportunity to celebrate their religious holidays openly and freely.
Significant changes have been made in this direction in recent years. For example, in 2022, the ban on Christmas trees and holiday decorations was lifted.
In 2023–2024, Christmas markets, themed concerts, and holiday programs in hotels began to be organized in major cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah. Officials regard these reforms as an important part of the country's openness policy, respect for cultural diversity, and tourism development strategy.
