Saudi Arabia off the list of destinations for a good time on New Year's Eve, this year
Saudi Arabia is off the list of destinations for a good time on New Year's Eve. Reuters

New Year's Eve means party time all around the world – but not in Saudi Arabia, where celebrating Hogmanay has been officially banned by religious police.

Public warnings have been issued by the country's feared secret police agency, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), ahead of December 31st<sup>.

The commission is responsible for enforcing strict Islamic law on the Kingdom's 30 million inhabitants, which it does on behalf on the ruling House of Saud.

Any merchandise to do with celebrating New Year such as t-shirts, has also been outlawed.

Saudi Arabia uses a different calendar from its Gulf State neighbours. According to the Saudi-preferred Muslim lunar calendar, New Year takes place in later October.

Saudi Arabia's ban on partying provides a stark contrast with events planned in neighbouring Dubai, where the government has announced a world record-breaking fireworks display, featuring $400,000 worth of explosions.

Saudi Arabia also imposes bans on men and women mingling together in public, as well as a ban on women drivers. Other universal celebrations eschewed by the place includes Valentine's Day.

Saudi Arabia