Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match Friday in Jeddah.
Women supporters, all wearing the traditional black abaya robe, arrived well ahead of Friday's kick-off in the Jeddah stadium, some in sunglasses and others with loose-fitting veils.
The first football match women are being allowed to attend is a clash between Saudi Premier League clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Batin in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
Alone or accompanied by their families, many women sat in reserved seats in Jeddah's Pearl stadium.
Glass panels were set up to separate men supporters from the women and family section of the stadium.
Saleh al-Ziadi brought his three daughters to the game.
"My daughters still don't believe this is happening. They have not yet realised they will be cheering their favourite team inside the stadium," he said.
Enthusiasm for the historic encounter began well before the scheduled 8:00 pm kick-off.
Lamya Khaled Nasser, a 32-year-old football fan from Jeddah, said she was proud and looking forward to the match.
"This event proves that we are heading for a prosperous future. I am very proud to be a witness of this massive change," she said.
The Saudi government said last week women would be allowed to attend a second match on Saturday and a third next Thursday.
Women supporters, all wearing the traditional black abaya robe, arrived well ahead of Friday's kick-off in the Jeddah stadium, some in sunglasses and others with loose-fitting veils.
The first football match women are being allowed to attend is a clash between Saudi Premier League clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Batin in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
Alone or accompanied by their families, many women sat in reserved seats in Jeddah's Pearl stadium.
Glass panels were set up to separate men supporters from the women and family section of the stadium.
Saleh al-Ziadi brought his three daughters to the game.
"My daughters still don't believe this is happening. They have not yet realised they will be cheering their favourite team inside the stadium," he said.
Enthusiasm for the historic encounter began well before the scheduled 8:00 pm kick-off.
Lamya Khaled Nasser, a 32-year-old football fan from Jeddah, said she was proud and looking forward to the match.
"This event proves that we are heading for a prosperous future. I am very proud to be a witness of this massive change," she said.
The Saudi government said last week women would be allowed to attend a second match on Saturday and a third next Thursday.