Mariah Carey, one of the world’s most celebrated artists, is performing in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for the first time.

Carey is the highest-profile star to perform in the Kingdom since it began opening up on entertainment, music and fun as part of a push by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman to overhaul the economy and transform society.

The Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority has promised a roster of major performances and sports exhibitions by the world’s biggest names.

Carey’s publicists told The Associated Press in a statement that when "presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia, Mariah accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation."

“As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all,” the statement said, adding that Carey looks forward to bringing inspiration and encouragement to all audiences.

In December, the Kingdom hosted a Formula-E car race in Riyadh, where thousands of young Saudis and hundreds of international visitors partied into the night at concerts by Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas and DJ David Guetta. — Agencies