Muscled out: Saudi gym worker sacked after flexing biceps to women

The spokesman for the labour ministry made the announcement on Monday, adding that the offending expat worker would be deported from the kingdom.

"Referring to what has been circulated of an expat present in a women-only area during job interviews with them. The ministry has inspected the establishment and documented violations," Khalid Abalkhail said on his official Twitter account.

"Services have been suspended the at the establishment and cooperation is ongoing with relevant authorities to deport the expat and hold him accountable," he added.

The spokesman shared a picture of a muscular man dressed in shorts and a T-shirt in front of a woman dressed in a full face-veil and abaya.

The biceps of the man were blurred out in the image.

Abu Dhabi-based Erem News reported that incident took place at a women's gym in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

"A number of women who had applied to work as sports trainers at the club were shocked when an expat rudely entered the waiting area, inappropriately dressed in shorts," the report said.

"He began to flex his muscles in front of them prompting many of them to leave," it added.

Women are required to wear body-shrouding abaya robes and also cover their hair in public in parts of the ultra-conservative kingdom, which has some of the world's toughest restrictions on women.

Men are also expected to not wear shorts or expose their arms - in line with Islamic guidelines on public dress codes for men.

In April, Saudi authorities shut down a female fitness centre in Riyadh over a promotional video showing a woman in figure-hugging workout attire.