Emiratis 'too handsome' for Saudi festival

Three Emiratis were expelled from a cultural festival in Saudi Arabia after religious police deemed them 'too handsome' and could attract women visitors, local website arabianbusiness.com reported on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia prohibits women from interacting with unrelated males.

The UAE nationals were taking part in a heritage event in Riyadh on Sunday when they were thrown out by Saudi’s religious cops, the website reported citing Arabic newspaper Elaph.

“A festival official said the three Emiratis were taken out on the grounds they are too handsome and that the Commission members feared female visitors could fall for them,” the newspaper said.

According to Huffington Post, the men were attending the Janadriyah Festival as delegates for a stand promoting the UAE when the incident occurred.

Steps were taken to return the three men to Abu Dhabi, the website reported.