In first, Saudi Arabia airs music concerts on TV

Dubai: The Saudi cultural channel, Al Thakafiyah TV, began airing music concerts at midnight.

The channel said on its official Twitter page that it will air music concerts of renowned Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum for the first time in 30 years.

In another Twitter post, it included an online link for those wanting to watch the concert online.

The move is the latest in a string of social changes afoot in Saudi Arabia and follows last month’s decree by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz to lift the ban on women driving.

Many Saudis welcomed the decision to air music concerts.

Munirah Al Gamdi praised the return of “normal life that … stopped three decades ago. Life is back to our television, the days of the 70s and 80s are back! Thank you,” wrote another Twitter user.

Umm Kulthum was one of the Arab world’s most prominent 20th century singers.

Meanwhile, Saudi singer Abdul Majeed Abdullah said men could bring their female relatives to his concert (earlier, concerts were only open to men).

“Our precious kingdom has entered a new era that will bring us all good things. Better things are yet to come,” he added.