Saudi Arabia has made headlines by hosting its first-ever swimsuit fashion show where women modeled without covering their heads.

The event took place poolside on Friday during the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort.

Saudi Arabia, known for its conservative stance on women’s fashion due to its adherence to Islamic law, traditionally expects women to wear the abaya, a loose-fitting black cloak, along with a headscarf in public.

While recent years have seen some relaxation in these dress codes as part of broader reforms, social and cultural norms largely remain conservative, especially in public and formal settings.

The swimwear show featured a summer beachwear collection by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal, showcasing mostly one-piece swimsuits in red, beige, and blue.

Models displayed designs with exposed shoulders and partially visible midriffs. Qanzal expressed her pride in contributing to this moment, stating, “This country is very conservative, but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world.”

Qanzal added, “When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a moment because it is the first time to have such an event.”

Red Sea Fashion Week is part of the Red Sea Global project, integral to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a social and economic reform plan spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Since becoming first in line to the throne in 2017, the Crown Prince has implemented numerous social reforms, including the reintroduction of cinemas and the organization of mixed-gender music festivals, aiming to modernize the country and diversify its economy beyond oil