Sports stadiums in Saudi Arabia will open their doors to
women to attend football matches for the first time ever on Friday, the
government has announced on Monday, January 8.
“The first match that women will be allowed to watch will
be Al-Ahli versus Al-Batin in the capital Riyadh, on Friday, Jan. 12,”
the ministry of information said in a statement.
The statement said women would also be able to attend the
second match on Saturday in Jeddah and a third one on Jan. 18, in the
eastern city of Dammam.
second match on Saturday in Jeddah and a third one on Jan. 18, in the
eastern city of Dammam.
The kingdom, which has some of the world’s tightest
restrictions on women, has long barred women from sports arenas by
strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public. A male family
member, usually the father, husband or brother must grant permission
for a woman to study, travel and do other activities.
restrictions on women, has long barred women from sports arenas by
strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public. A male family
member, usually the father, husband or brother must grant permission
for a woman to study, travel and do other activities.
But the conservative kingdom has in recent months eased
some of its most notorious restrictions on women, including the lifting
of a driving ban set to go into effect in June.
some of its most notorious restrictions on women, including the lifting
of a driving ban set to go into effect in June.
The easing of social controls comes as Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman looks to repackage the oil-rich nation as more
moderate and welcoming.
Mohammed bin Salman looks to repackage the oil-rich nation as more
moderate and welcoming.
As part of the crown prince’s reforms drive, Saudi Arabia
announced in December it was lifting a decades-ban on cinemas with the
first movie theaters expected to open in March.
announced in December it was lifting a decades-ban on cinemas with the
first movie theaters expected to open in March.
