Fashionable women, dark-haired&nbsp;Saudis and blonde Eastern Europeans alike, fill the gold-trimmed halls of Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel, marking the start of&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia's first-ever fashion week.

Models and makeup artists preparing for the inaugural&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;episode of Arab Fashion Week said they were surprised the event was taking place in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom.

"We are so excited because this is the first fashion week in&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, so we are making history," model Anita Dmycroska said.

Strict social restrictions have eased dramatically under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has reined in religious police, introduced public concerts and lifted bans on cinemas and women driving.

Yet, restrictions persist. Tuesday's reception was open to men and cameras, but only women are permitted at catwalk events and outside photography is barred.

Women in public places in&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, wear abayas -- loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of piety.

With recent reforms, women in some cities have begun to don more colourful abayas, sometimes trimmed with lace and velvet or left open to reveal long skirts or jeans.

No abayas will feature on the catwalk. The event hosts invitation-only fashion viewings and a Harvey Nichols pop-up store in a tent that was still being erected hours before the first show.

Another tent holds the catwalk, featuring designers from Brazil, Lebanon, Russia,&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

&nbsp;

MAKING THE KINGDOM FASHIONABLE

The event, initially scheduled for last month, was postponed because of delays in issuing visas. Industry figures from Italy, Russia and Lebanon flocked to Riyadh, many for the first time, to admire the work of local and international designers.

Layla Issa Abouzeid,&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia&nbsp;country director for the Dubai-based Arab Fashion Council (AFC) organising the event, said 1,500 people were expected to attend, including 400 from abroad.

She hopes the event will bring revenue into the kingdom and highlight local talent.

"[When] people go to Paris on the Paris Fashion week, the hotels are completely fully booked," she said. "I want to create the same demand in&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, twice a year. I want to create a platform for the local designers to go worldwide."

Lebanese designer Naja Saade came to Riyadh to display his couture collection.

"I'm very proud to participate in this first edition of Arab Fashion Week in&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, because it's a part of the revolution of the women in this country," he said.

By bringing talent from Europe and placing international brands on the same catwalk as Arab brands, he hopes to elevate local fashion designers.

AFC wants to introduce fashion courses, internships and scholarships to&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia&nbsp;and develop a fashion district in Riyadh.

Jacob Abrian, AFC founder and chief executive, said many Arabs have had to leave their countries to have fashion careers, but this recurring event allows them to stay in the region.

"I was always asking myself, why do us Arabs have to travel abroad to find our future? Why can’t we find our future in our own countries?"

Women in public places in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, wear abayas -- loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of piety.

Fashionable women, dark-haired Saudis and blonde Eastern Europeans alike, fill the gold-trimmed halls of Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel, marking the start of Saudi Arabia's first-ever fashion week. Models and makeup artists preparing for the inaugural Saudi episode of Arab Fashion Week said they were surprised the event was taking place in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom. "We are so excited because this is the first fashion week in Saudi Arabia, so we are making history," model Anita Dmycroska said. Strict social restrictions have eased dramatically under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has reined in religious police, introduced public concerts and lifted bans on cinemas and women driving. Yet, restrictions persist. Tuesday's reception was open to men and cameras, but only women are permitted at catwalk events and outside photography is barred. Women in public places in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, wear abayas -- loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of piety. With recent reforms, women in some cities have begun to don more colourful abayas, sometimes trimmed with lace and velvet or left open to reveal long skirts or jeans. No abayas will feature on the catwalk. The event hosts invitation-only fashion viewings and a Harvey Nichols pop-up store in a tent that was still being erected hours before the first show. Another tent holds the catwalk, featuring designers from Brazil, Lebanon, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. MAKING THE KINGDOM FASHIONABLE The event, initially scheduled for last month, was postponed because of delays in issuing visas. Industry figures from Italy, Russia and Lebanon flocked to Riyadh, many for the first time, to admire the work of local and international designers. Layla Issa Abouzeid, Saudi Arabia country director for the Dubai-based Arab Fashion Council (AFC) organising the event, said 1,500 people were expected to attend, including 400 from abroad. She hopes the event will bring revenue into the kingdom and highlight local talent. "[When] people go to Paris on the Paris Fashion week, the hotels are completely fully booked," she said. "I want to create the same demand in Saudi Arabia, twice a year. I want to create a platform for the local designers to go worldwide." Lebanese designer Naja Saade came to Riyadh to display his couture collection. "I'm very proud to participate in this first edition of Arab Fashion Week in Saudi Arabia, because it's a part of the revolution of the women in this country," he said. By bringing talent from Europe and placing international brands on the same catwalk as Arab brands, he hopes to elevate local fashion designers. AFC wants to introduce fashion courses, internships and scholarships to Saudi Arabia and develop a fashion district in Riyadh. Jacob Abrian, AFC founder and chief executive, said many Arabs have had to leave their countries to have fashion careers, but this recurring event allows them to stay in the region. "I was always asking myself, why do us Arabs have to travel abroad to find our future? Why can’t we find our future in our own countries?"

Fashionably late: Saudi Arabia hosts its first-ever fashion week

Riyadh&#39;s Ritz-Carlton Hotel reopened on Sunday, more than three months after it was converted into a gilded prison for members of Saudi Arabia&#39;s business and political elite detained in an anti-corruption purge.

The gates of the luxury hotel, where US President Donald Trump stayed during his state visit last year, had been shuttered and patrolled by black-uniformed royal guard units while dozens of princes, former ministers and business tycoons were interrogated inside.

The detainees were removed from the hotel two weeks ago, most released after cutting a deal with the authorities or being exonerated, an apparent sign that the corruption investigation, which sent shockwaves through the business community, was winding down.

A handful of smart-suited businessmen, forced to decamp to other hotels since November, returned to the Ritz on Sunday.

&quot;It&#39;s an honour (to be back),&quot; said one foreign consultant as he waited for a luxury car to take him to work.

He said the purge had not left any trace on the 492-room hotel where the lowest rate is 2,439 riyals ($650) a night.

&quot;You forget about it as soon as you&#39;re in your room and you get lost in your own bubble.&quot;

The hotel&#39;s opulent lobby appeared normal. Uniformed waiters milled below crystal chandeliers as acoustic Arabic music filtered through speakers and incense wafted from a gilt burner.

Managers declined an interview request, but the company confirmed in a statement that the hotel had &quot;resumed normal business operations as of today&quot;.

Among the most high-profile occupants during the anti-corruption campaign were global investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender for the throne.

Prince Miteb was freed after agreeing to pay over $1 billion, a Saudi official told Reuters.

Prince Alwaleed maintained his innocence of any corruption in a Reuters interview hours before his release. A senior Saudi official later said he was freed after reaching a financial settlement, without detailing the terms.

The attorney general has said the government had arranged to seize more than $106 billion through such agreements, an assertion Reuters has been unable to verify.

Critics decried the campaign as a shakedown and power play by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is aiming to overhaul the way the deeply conservative kingdom is run and wean it off dependence on oil revenues.

Ten days before the purge began, the Ritz hosted an international business conference where Prince Mohammed spoke onstage and snapped selfies with admirers. Some participants later ended up as detainees.

In the absence of more information, speculation ran wild about what was happening inside the Ritz. The authorities denied rumours of torture and attempted suicides.

The attorney general has said 56 people remain in custody. They are believed to have been moved to prison after refusing to admit wrongdoing and may end up in court.

Ahmed al-Safer, a Yemeni-American businessman who regularly stays at the Ritz, stopped in on Sunday to have tea with friends.

Asked if the purge had affected the hotel&#39;s reputation, he said: &quot;Right now it&#39;s famous. Everyone will visit just to take a picture.&quot;

The detainees were removed from the hotel two weeks ago

Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel reopened on Sunday, more than three months after it was converted into a gilded prison for members of Saudi Arabia's business and political elite detained in an anti-corruption purge. The gates of the luxury hotel, where US President Donald Trump stayed during his state visit last year, had been shuttered and patrolled by black-uniformed royal guard units while dozens of princes, former ministers and business tycoons were interrogated inside. The detainees were removed from the hotel two weeks ago, most released after cutting a deal with the authorities or being exonerated, an apparent sign that the corruption investigation, which sent shockwaves through the business community, was winding down. A handful of smart-suited businessmen, forced to decamp to other hotels since November, returned to the Ritz on Sunday. "It's an honour (to be back)," said one foreign consultant as he waited for a luxury car to take him to work. He said the purge had not left any trace on the 492-room hotel where the lowest rate is 2,439 riyals ($650) a night. "You forget about it as soon as you're in your room and you get lost in your own bubble." The hotel's opulent lobby appeared normal. Uniformed waiters milled below crystal chandeliers as acoustic Arabic music filtered through speakers and incense wafted from a gilt burner. Managers declined an interview request, but the company confirmed in a statement that the hotel had "resumed normal business operations as of today". Among the most high-profile occupants during the anti-corruption campaign were global investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender for the throne. Prince Miteb was freed after agreeing to pay over $1 billion, a Saudi official told Reuters. Prince Alwaleed maintained his innocence of any corruption in a Reuters interview hours before his release. A senior Saudi official later said he was freed after reaching a financial settlement, without detailing the terms. The attorney general has said the government had arranged to seize more than $106 billion through such agreements, an assertion Reuters has been unable to verify. Critics decried the campaign as a shakedown and power play by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is aiming to overhaul the way the deeply conservative kingdom is run and wean it off dependence on oil revenues. Ten days before the purge began, the Ritz hosted an international business conference where Prince Mohammed spoke onstage and snapped selfies with admirers. Some participants later ended up as detainees. In the absence of more information, speculation ran wild about what was happening inside the Ritz. The authorities denied rumours of torture and attempted suicides. The attorney general has said 56 people remain in custody. They are believed to have been moved to prison after refusing to admit wrongdoing and may end up in court. Ahmed al-Safer, a Yemeni-American businessman who regularly stays at the Ritz, stopped in on Sunday to have tea with friends. Asked if the purge had affected the hotel's reputation, he said: "Right now it's famous. Everyone will visit just to take a picture."

Saudi Ritz reopens after stint as gilded prison of princes

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Fashionably late: Saudi Arabia hosts its first-ever fashion week

Saudi Ritz reopens after stint as gilded prison of princes