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In first, female anchor presents evening newscast in Saudi

In first, female anchor presents evening newscast in Saudi

Suadi tv female anchor, Weam Al Dakheel.

A female journalist created a history in Saudi Arabia as she became the first woman to anchor the main news bulletin on country's state-run TV channel.

Weam Al Dakheel co-presented Al Saudiya's 9:30 pm news bulletin on Thursday along with her other male colleague.

People on Twitter praised her appearance on prime time slot on national television and said that it marks a milestone in the deeply conservative kingdom.

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Before Al Saudiya, AI Dakheel was a reporter at CNBC Arabia. She has also worked as a presenter for the Bahrain-based AI Arab news channel.

AL Saudiya is a state-run channel and is administered by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Dakheel's appearance came amid the various reforms taking place in the kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030".

In June Saudi Arabia in historic reofrm, allowed women to drive, ending the world's only ban on female motorists.

The move is expected to boost women's employment, and according to a Bloomberg estimate, add $90 billion to economic output by 2030.

He also lifted a ban on cinemas and mixed-gender concerts, following his public vow to return the kingdom to moderate Islam.