For lovers in the more conservative areas of the Arab world, a simple rendezvous is nothing short of a challenge.

One Egyptian young man knows that all too well. 

Forbidden from meeting up with his girlfriend, 22-year-old Ahmad donned the niqab - a garment of clothing that covers the face - and walked to her house, before being caught and getting beaten up by villagers. 

Al Arabiya reported that Ahmad had proposed to his girlfriend several times but failed to get her father's blessing.

After returning from Saudi Arabia - where he currently works - he decided to head to her house in the village of Sowada Abu Shalabi, Al-Sharqeya governorate, while her parents were away.

To sneak into the house without catching people's attention, he dressed up as a woman, putting on an abaya and covering his face with a niqab.

However, some villagers noticed his masculine shoes and "way of walking," after which they stopped him and removed the veil.

The villagers went on to physically assault him to pressure him into revealing why he was wearing feminine attire.

To add insult to injury, they took him on a "humiliating tour around the village," before turning him in to the authorities.

According to Huffington Post Arabi, Ahmad was arrested and transferred to the Public Prosecution. Investigations into the incident are currently underway, but it remains unclear what charges he might face.

"I wish him the best of luck." 

Richard Branson, the British billionaire and founder of Virgin Airlines, will invest in the Red Sea mega project - an exotic eco-resort situated across a lagoon of 50 virgin islands of Saudi Arabia.

The conservative kingdom aims to turn the islands into a luxury "semi-autonomous" tourist destination.

According to Arab News, Branson is the first international investor to commit to the project.

Branson set his eyes on the project during his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, where he visited the Red Sea and the tombs at Mada’in Saleh - a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

He described his experience on Virgin’s website, calling it “a country where great change is taking place step by step.”

“During my visit, I had the chance to enjoy a fascinating tour of Saudi Arabia that few people have got a chance to see before,” Mr Branson wrote in a social media post.

“We were taken to the Red Sea, where a huge project to turn a giant lagoon into a beautiful tourism destination is underway,” Branson said.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia announced plans of turning 34,000 square kilometres (13,127 square miles) of its Red Sea coastline into high-end luxury resorts.

Tourism is considered to be a vital part of employment for Saudi Arabia’s young population, with the Red Sea project expected to generate 35,000 jobs.

Foundations of the Red Sea development are scheduled for the third quarter of 2019. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, including the development of hotels and luxury residential units, as well as all logistical infrastructure - including air, land, and sea transport hubs.

Under Saudi Vision 2030, a key goal is to increase the number of tourists in the kingdom. 

Currently, while millions travel to Saudi Arabia each year, this is primarily for religious tourism to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

Ever since the ambitious Vision 2030 was revealed, many have been speculating how the kingdom will open up to encourage non-religious tourists. 

The Red Sea development could clearly bring plenty of beachgoers to the kingdom, but it all hinges on how things move forward.