Saudi Arabia hosted its first female concert, where thousands of women danced and cheered for Lebanese songstress Hiba Tawaji .
Hiba performed to a packed audience at the cavernous King Fahd Cultural Centre. Applause and shrieks of joy erupted as she dazzled Riyadh.
“I came especially from Jizan to watch this concert,” said Nafees Awad, a university student from the southern province, more than 950 kilometres (590 miles) from Riyadh.
“We are so happy to watch such a concert, it’s the first time” in Riyadh, she added.
This concert was a part of the initiative “Vision 2030” which aims at diversifying the Saudi economy and reforming the society. The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is aiming at moderating Islam and making Saudi Arabia a country open to all religions and cultures.