In a major move, Saudi Arabia is planning to allow women to attend sports events in stadiums for the first time from next year, reported BBC, citing senior officials.

Once implemented, the families will be able to enter the stadiums in three major cities - Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Up until now, the venues have been men-only areas.

This is yet another move towards giving more freedom to Saudi women, who face strict gender segregation rules, and follows the historic lifting of a driving ban, it stated.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading a major drive to modernise Saudi society and boost the economy, said the BBC report.

Saudi Arabia's sports authority said that preparations would start in the three stadiums so they can be "ready to accommodate families from early 2018".

Restaurants, cafes and monitor screens would be set up inside the stadiums as part of the changes, it added.

The reforms are in line with a wide-ranging plan announced by 32-year-old Prince Mohammed to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent kingdom, known as Vision 2030, stated the BBC report.

Last month, a royal decree said that women would be allowed to drive for the first time from next June. Concerts are once again being held and cinemas are expected to return soon, it added.