I4) A New Era of Empowerment: Muslim Women’s Solo Religious Travel to Saudi Arabia after Vision 2030’s Groundbreaking Reforms

Since the declaration of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016, the country has undergone significant and transformative changes, including reforms aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women across various sectors including religious tourism, represented by Hajj (pilgrimage) and Umrah. One of the most historical and impactful changes is the elimination of the requirement for women to have a male guardian/companion (mahram) when visiting Saudi Arabia (SA) to perform religious tourism, enabling them to travel independently. This policy shift, implemented gradually between 2019 and 2022, not only empowers women but also supports Saudi Arabia’s broader goals of increasing tourism, modernizing its socio-economic landscape, and aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals introduced during the United Nations Summit on September 25, 2015. This paper explores the relevance of Vision 2030 in fostering women's independent religious travel by analysing policy reforms, their influence on female pilgrims, and the broader implications for religious tourism. This paper examines the growing trend of women performing independent religious tourism and the associated economic impacts through an analysis of government policies, economic reports, and testimonies from female travellers. It identifies the key infrastructure and service adaptations designed to support solo female travellers, including enhanced safety protocols, specialized services, and increased accommodation options. Furthermore, the paper explores the cultural and social ramifications of this shift, particularly in terms of evolving gender role perceptions within SA and Muslim communities. The findings reveal that eliminating the mahram requirement has significantly increased women’s independent participation in Hajj and Umrah, boosting religious tourism and reshaping long-standing gender norms. However, challenges such as cultural resistance and logistical barriers remain. The paper highlights Vision 2030's pivotal role in advancing gender equality in religious tourism and its broader impact on transforming Saudi Arabia's global Islamic tourism industry, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.