"RIYADH, 4 September 2003 — One of the most remarkable among the many and varied tribal customs that survive in Saudi Arabia is one that forbids
anyone at all seeing a woman’s face. In parts of the Al-Kharj region,
not even a woman’s husband and children are permitted to see her face uncovered.
In interviews with Al-Kharj residents, Sayidaty, a sister publication of Arab News, heard that often the first time even a daughter sees her mother’s face is after the mother’s death.
“
I always dreamt of seeing my mother’s face because I am a woman like her,” resident Hissa Al-Massareir told the magazine. “But because of customs and traditions in the family, this was impossible. It was only when my mother died that my dream came true,” she added."
http://www.arabnews.com/node/236771
So is this due to "wahhabis" or is it due to their desert culture they've retained since they were pagans?