Saudi Arabia, a state where concerts are banned and music is prohibited in restaurants and stores, says construction will begin on the kingdom's first-ever opera house as it moves to shake off its conservative image and lure in tourist dollars. 'The bridge is starting to reverse'Thursday's announcement says the opera house will be built in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on the kingdom's western coast. "The bridge is starting to reverse," Khatib said, referring to the causeway linking Saudi Arabia with more liberal Bahrain where many Saudis flock for weekend getaways. The entertainment plans are largely motivated by economics, part of a reform programme to diversify the economy from oil and create new sectors to employ young Saudis. "We are bringing the most exciting and famous events to Saudi Arabia this year," Khatib told Reuters in an interview,adding that state-sponsored entertainment events would be staged in 56 cities.

Source: CBC News February 22, 2018 17:03 UTC