Finally, Women in Saudi Can Watch Official Football Matches

• Finally, Women in Saudi Can Watch Official Football Matches

In an effort to diversify the economy, women in the kingdom will be able to watch football matches for the first time this year.

According to the report, three stadiums will no longer be male only. The facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will be “prepared to be ready for families, including allocation of special places for seating and entrances,” the Center for International Communication said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia is adding more entertainment as it strives to diversify the economy from oil. It said in December that it will allow public cinemas for the first time in 35 years, with the first multiplexes expected to open in March this year.

Conservative Saudis and the country’s Islamic clerical establishment have typically frowned upon non-religious forms of entertainment, including cinema and music.