Having already hosted three major concerts and its very first comic convention, the kingdom seems to be all about entertainment this year.

On Thursday night, Saudi capital Riyadh hosted a concert by a Japanese classical orchestra, as part of the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Music Exchange Program.

The concert not only featured a mixed-gender orchestra and a female lead singer, but it was also attended by a mixed-gender audience. It is considered the first-ever Japanese full orchestra concert in the kingdom, and Riyadh's third public concert this year after a 25-year hiatus.

Under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information and the Embassy of Japan, the concert took place at the befitting King Fahad Cultural Center.

The Japanese orchestra was headed by international conductor Hirofumi Yoshida, who led a group of some 80 male and female members, marking the orchestra's first performance in the Middle East. 

While the kingdom has already hosted concerts this year, this was the first to include female musicians on stage. 

According to Saudi daily Okaz, the event was held as part of the Japanese Cultural Week in the kingdom, which featured Japanese movie screenings, along with cultural and artistic exhibitions and activities. 

In his introductory speech, Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Adel al-Toraifi noted that such events aim to strengthen the kingdom's "cooperation and friendship" with Japan.

When it comes to classical music, only two major public concerts have ever held in Saudi Arabia before this one. The first-ever public performance of classical music took place in 2008 when a German-based quartet performed before a mixed-gender audience.

In 2012, Jeddah held a classical music concert featuring German musicians, along with Saudi violinist Gehad al-Khaldi. 

The kingdom has been pushing through for classical music, with Culture and Information Minister approving the establishment of a national musical orchestra in 2016.

Saudi Arabia's efforts to enhance cultural and entertainment opportunities is an integral part of the Riyadh Vision 2030, an initiative that has been championed by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the country seeks to diversify its economy. In early January, Amr al-Madani, head of the kingdom's General Authority for Entertainment, said concerts and cinemas would come to the kingdom in 2017. 

So far, we've seen a number of concerts take the kingdom by storm. 

In January, the kingdom hosted its first major concerts in seven years: a jazz performance in Riyadh - the first in the city in 25 years - and a concert by Saudi singer Mohammed Abdo in Jeddah, marking the city's first musical performance in seven years.

Riyadh also hosted a second concert earlier this month, featuring Saudi singers Rabeh Saqer and Khalid Abdulrahman.

But, the kingdom's efforts to boost entertainment do not stop here.

Last week, Saudi Arabia unveiled its plans to build a city dedicated solely for entertainment purposes in Riyadh. Dubbed the "entertainment city", the project includes one of the world's largest theme parks, Six Flags, alongside a safari park and other cultural, sporting and entertainment facilities. 

In March, the kingdom saw more than 2,500 people attend the first ever YouTube FanFest, which brought together YouTubers from around the world. 

Plus, Saudi Arabia held its first-ever Comic Con in February, which was attended by a number of international celebrities, including stars from the popular series Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and Hannibal.