Watch: Saudi man fined for wearing night thobe in public as decency laws enforced

Dubai: Wearing a night thobe, a traditional sleepwear garment typically reserved for home use, in public has landed a Saudi citizen in trouble with the law, as Saudi authorities in the Qassim region continue to enforce the Kingdom’s public decency regulations.

A video shared by the Ministry of Interior shows a man being stopped by a police officer and informed that his attire violates Article 4 of the Public Decency Regulations, which prohibit clothing considered inappropriate for public spaces.

The man was fined SR100, with penalties doubling to SR200 for repeat violations.

While the night thobe may appear modest by global standards, it is widely regarded in Saudi Arabia as private attire unsuitable for public settings.

The footage was part of a campaign by the Ministry highlighting a series of public decency and law enforcement actions carried out across the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Decency Code, approved in 2019, includes 19 regulatory articles designed to promote community values and maintain the visual integrity of public spaces.

It explicitly prohibits the wearing of sleepwear or undergarments in public, clothing that carries offensive images or slogans, and unauthorized graffiti or markings on public facilities and transportation.

The code enforces a SAR 100 fine for first-time violations related to wearing sleepwear in public, increasing to SAR 200 for repeat offences.

Additional clips included in the campaign show police in the Eastern Province uncovering hidden packets of illegal drugs during a routine vehicle inspection. Officers were seen searching seats, undercarriages, and compartments before seizing the contraband.

Another video captures a man begging from passing cars at a traffic signal, an act prohibited under Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Begging Law. Individuals found begging or operating organized begging networks can face up to six months in prison and fines of SR50,000. More severe penalties, including deportation for non-citizens, apply to those managing or assisting in organized schemes.