Saudi Arabia hosted its first female concert, where thousands of women danced and cheered for Lebanese songstress Hiba Tawaji on Wednesday, NBC News reported.
The all-women event is the latest move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ease restrictions in a country ranked poorly when it comes to gender equality, and is one of several recent concerts to be held in the kingdom for the first time.
"This is a very proud moment for Saudi Arabia," the master of ceremonies said as hundreds of women packed King Fahd Cultural Centre, according to NBC News. "All women should express their appreciation for a fact that a woman for the first time is performing at a concert in Saudi Arabia."
The Guardian noted that women were also permitted to attend an operetta at the national stadium in Riyadh on Saturday and another concert was held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
The events are part of the government's "Vision 2030" program that aims to shift attention away from oil in attempts to diversify the economy and reform the kingdom's society.
Under the reform, women will be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, The Sun Daily reported.
"It's good that women's existence is being recognized," Salma, a university student said, via The Sun Daily.
"I came especially from Jizan to watch this concert," said Nafees Awad, a university student, said per The Sun Daily. "We are so happy to watch such a concert. It's the first time."
Al Anoud, a Riyadh resident attending the concert, said she hoped there would be more concerts.
"I am enthusiastic about this and we deserve to have more musical events," she said, according to NBC News.
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