A women-only industrial city for female workers is to be built in Saudi Arabia.

It is to provide a working environment that is in line with the strict customs of the kingdom.

The city is to be built in the east of the country and is set to be the first of several planned for the Gulf kingdom.

The aim is to allow more women to work while maintaining the gender segregation.

Proposals have also been submitted for four similar industrial cities exclusively for women entrepreneurs, employers and employees in Riyadh.