Saudi in thobe ‘barred from Cairo tourist site’

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has launched an official investigation into claims that a Saudi man was barred from entering a tourist site because he was wearing a thobe.
The incident has gone viral on social media sites. The Saudi citizen had apparently been with his family at the time, according to a report in a local publication.
Rasha Al-Azaizee, official spokesman of the ministry and media adviser to the Egyptian minister of tourism, said the investigation would focus on identifying the location and details of the incident.
She said all Saudi tourists are given special consideration due to the close relationship between the Kingdom and Egypt. The ministry does not prevent tourists from accessing tourist locations while clothed in their national dress, she said.
Al-Azaizee said that if the actions of the Egyptian security guards are confirmed, they would have acted on their own, in violation of the policies and views of the ministry and the Egyptian people.
Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Abdulaziz Qattan said the embassy would contact the ministry to find out more about the incident, and that steps would be taken with the ministry.
There would also be measures taken to comfort the Saudi man and his family. He urged Saudi citizens in Egypt to contact the embassy directly if they have any complaints.
Online sources had claimed that security guards outside the gates of the tourist location in Cairo prevented the Saudi tourist and his family from entering, claiming they were acting on official orders to bar tourists dressed in Saudi thobes.
Several people recorded the incident on their mobile phones and spread the videos and images online.
Many Egyptian citizens said online that the claims, if true, does not reflect the views of the country.