Fact Check: Did Saudi Crown Prince allow women to dress however they want Without Male Permission?

A claim has resurfaced online stating that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has granted women in Saudi Arabia the freedom to dress as they wish without requiring approval from a male spouse or sibling.

On March 30, 2025, an X user, @realMaalouf, shared the claim alongside a photo collage featuring the prince and Saudi model Rumy Alqathani, who competed in Miss Universe 2024 last year. The post read:
“Prince Mohammed bin Salman: From now on, women in Saudi Arabia can dress however they want without male permission.”

As of March 31, 2025, the post has amassed over 4.4 million views, more than 8,700 reposts, and over 88,000 likes.

Additionally, another X user, @RadioEuropes, shared a similar claim on March 31, 2025.

Fact Check

Upon investigation, the DFRAC Team found the claim to be misleading, as the Saudi prince has been quoted out of context.

A Google search for the keywords “Prince Salman Saudi Arabia Women Dressing” reveals media reports indicating that the Saudi Crown Prince addressed the topic of women’s attire in Saudi Arabia during a CBS News interview in March 2018.

During the interview, he advocated for women to wear “decent, respectful clothing, like men” in accordance with Sharia law, rather than dressing however they please.

Several reputable media outlets, including Reuters and DW, reported on the interview, highlighting that the Saudi Prime Minister provided insights into the cultural norms and practices of the kingdom.

When asked whether women are considered equal to men in Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince responded that “we are all human beings”, emphasizing that there is no fundamental difference between genders.

He also addressed the presence of extremist views that prohibit men and women from mixing in public spaces, explaining that some individuals fail to distinguish between professional interactions and private encounters.

“The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men. This, however, does not particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear,” the Saudi prince said in the interview held in 2018.

Conclusion

The claim that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has permitted women to dress however they wish without male approval is misleading. While the prince did discuss women’s dress codes in a 2018 CBS News interview, he emphasized that women should wear “decent, respectful clothing” in line with Sharia law, without specifying a mandatory black abaya or headscarf. However, he did not state that women are free to dress in any manner they choose. There is no recent evidence or official announcement supporting the viral claim.