[custom_adv] Saudi women have attended a football match in Saudi Arabia for the first time, as part of reforms spearheaded by the kingdom’s crown prince. Female football fans wearing scarves and waving flags took their seats at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah for Al-Ahli’s match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League. However, the women had to enter through designated turnstiles for women and families. [custom_adv] "Today, you brought happiness to every Saudi family and woman who attended the first game," said Reema Bandar Al-Saud, a deputy at the General Sports Authority and part of the Saudi Royal family. "This is a historic moment for the Kingdom." [custom_adv] Female security personnel in bright orange vests were deployed for Friday's match to screen the first-time fans, most of whom wear black veils to cover their hair and face along with abaya, long black robes. A sign in Arabic on the 'family section' said "Welcome to Saudi families" as women made their way through a women's only car park and stadium entrance. [custom_adv] The easing of social controls comes as Prince Mohammed looks to repackage the oil-rich nation as more moderate and welcoming. The powerful crown prince's "Vision 2030" programme for a post-oil era stems partly from an economic motive to boost domestic spending on entertainment as the kingdom reels from an energy slump. [custom_adv] [custom_adv] Hours before the game, Saudi clubs were encouraging women to attend through tweets on social media. Some clubs are offering special abayas -- traditional head-to-toe robes for Saudi women -- in team colors. State-owned Saudi Airlines announced prizes of free tickets for five families who want to travel between cities to watch games.
