Saudi women to be allowed into sports stadiums next year

Saudi men and women attend national day ceremonies at the King Fahd stadium in Riyadh. (AP)

Women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed into sports stadiums as of next year, the Kingdom announced Sunday in the latest incremental step toward easing rules on gender segregation in the country.

In a country where most women cover their hair and face with a veil and all women are required to wear an abaya, a loose black dress, in public, it's a noteworthy step toward gender equality.

The decision by the General Sports Authority states women will be seated in the so-called family section, an area separate from the male-only crowd.

These "family" sections are for women who are out on their own or who are accompanied by a male relative. Many restaurants and cafes, which often also have separate entrances for women, have similarly segregated seating arrangements.

The authority said the three major sports stadiums in the capital, Riyadh, and the cities of Jiddah and Dammam will undergo renovations to accommodate families.

Saudi women take part in Glowork exhibition in Riyadh. (Reuters)

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The decision comes after the public appeared to welcome a decision to allow women to drive for the first time next year. Many also responded enthusiastically when women were allowed into the Riyadh stadium for national day celebrations last month.

It's a stark reversal from years of allowing only men into the stadiums, many built with hundreds of millions of dollars when oil prices were nearly double what they are now.

Two years ago, a Saudi woman was arrested while attending a soccer game in Jiddah's al-Jawhara stadium, which opened to the public in 2014. Police were quoted in local media at the time as saying that security spotted her at the stadium "deliberately disguised" in pants, a long-sleeve top, a hat and sunglasses to avoid detection.

Over the years, some exceptions have been made for foreign women. In 2015, an Australian female supporter of Western Sydney Wanderers soccer club was permitted to attend a match at Riyadh's main stadium and a group of American women traveling with members of U.S. Congress watched a local club match, also in Riyadh.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.