"The Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia yesterday protested a decision to shut down its booth at an education fair because it was staffed by women. "Such unprofessional incidents are very damaging to Saudi Arabia's international reputation," the embassy said in a statement following the closure at the 12th Middle East education fair in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. "Prior to the event, we specifically inquired whether women staff would be permitted at the exhibition and we were told by the organisers, the Al Harithy Company, that they would," it added. The booth was closed because there were two women amongst the staff, an embassy official said, requesting anonymity."