Eleven things women in Saudi Arabia cannot do

Ban on women entering a Starbucks store in Riyadh is latest in long line of restrictions

Saudi Arabia women
Women wearing the traditional abaya gown and hijab headscarf

Saudi woman

Go for a swim

Sometimes there may be an hour set aside for women only.

Reuters correspondent Arlene Getz describes her experience of trying to use the gym and pool at an upmarket Riyadh hotel:

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"As a woman, I wasn't even allowed to look at them ('there are men in swimsuits there,' a hotel staffer told me with horror) — let alone use them."

"As a woman, I wasn't even allowed to look at them ('there are men in swimsuits there,' a hotel staffer told me with horror) — let alone use them."

For Saudi women who would like to spend time swimming with their family, they can rent esterah's which are private compounds with a separate swimming pool.

There are also particular swimsuits Muslim women must wear, which aim to cover the whole body to protect modesty.

Some women prefer to swim at night to avoid the glances of men, which has caused accidents.

Click to page 6 to discover other things women in the Muslim kingdom are still unable to do.