Is Saudi Arabia finally ready for fun? The majority Muslim country bans many forms of entertainment. But the kingdom is changing its ultra-strict image. It is beginning to welcome live shows, even some American ones . . . as long as women aren’t involved.
Saudi women must wear long, loose robes. Most cover their hair and face with black veils. They’re not allowed to drive.
Most Saudis freely observe strict Islamic values. Many consider movies, concerts, and theater corrupt. But there are plenty who embrace reform. Plus, the growing entertainment scene has a powerful backer—Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This year, Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Comic-Con (comic convention) drew thousands of spectators. Fans dressed as Marvel characters. Music blared. For most of the event men and women weren’t separated—unlike in schools, mosques, restaurants, and the many Starbucks coffee shops across the country. Even some women dressed in colorful superhero costumes. But if costumed, they stayed in a female-only area.
Still, Moiz Muqri was happy. She’s collected comic books since the 1990s. “An event like Comic-Con, I could not have imagined it happening in Saudi Arabia five years ago,” she says, sporting a Spiderman hoodie.
It’s a big shift from a few years ago. Religious police shooed women out of malls for wearing bright nail polish then. They insisted restaurants turn music off and broke up gatherings of unrelated men and women.
Comic-Con went too far for some. Tens of thousands protested on Twitter, including a prominent imam (religious leader).
Sheikh Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the event. He called its life-size statues and glorification of superheroes a form of idolatry. He said it was “shameful that there be such events sponsored by an official entity.”
After that, the imam’s Twitter account was deleted without explanation. Rebuking the government isn’t allowed.
The General Entertainment Authority is the official sponsor of events like Comic-Con. The group has an agenda: Keep Saudi money in Saudi Arabia.
Another aim is to satisfy the country’s youth. They—unlike the older generation—have access to the world through their smartphones. These young people clamor for change.
Despite progress in Saudi Arabia, there are still no plans for movie theaters. But a comedy play, a poetry recital, and drag racing are scheduled for 2017.
In April, the all-American Monster Jam truck show roared into Riyadh, the capital. Tens of thousands showed up to watch massive trucks fly across pits and dunes. The event seemed almost ordinary—except for one thing: Female drivers, mechanics, and spectators weren’t allowed.
