IKEA airbrushes women from Saudi Arabian catalogue

Previously, the catalogue of the world’s largest furniture retailer IKEA was identical all over the world.



There was a noticeable difference in a recent Saudi Arabian version, however, which airbrushed all the women and most girls from its pages. The pictures in the Saudi catalogue display the same interiors and products, but no women.

Sweden's Minister of Trade Ewa Björling argues that the retouched images are a "sad example that shows that there is a long way to go in terms of equality between men and women in Saudi Arabia."



"Women cannot be retouched away in reality. If Saudi Arabia does not allow women to appear [in public] or work, they lose about half their intellectual capital," she said. IKEA spokesperson Ylva Magnusson said that the catalogue was designed by an external franchise owner that operates IKEA stores in Saudi Arabia.