The experience of a MARCA journalist in Saudi Arabia Supercopa The Supercopa is being held in Jeddah

"Saudi Arabia has changed a lot. You wouldn't even imagine. For around a year now, a revolution has been happening. The fact that you're here is an example. And now women can study, work..." different Saudi Arabians have told me. Only men; the women don't stop to talk. They refuse to interact. Only one wanted to stop to take a photo with Marta Garcia, from MARCA videos, and me. But the truth is, it's a country that is undergoing a process of modernisation. A slow one. Very slow, but a modernisation nonetheless.

Mohamed Bin Salman, the son of the King of Saudi Arabia, is trying to make his country more western. He studied in the United States and promotes an openness in Saudi Arabia. For example, women have been able to drive for the past year. Between the thousands of cars I've come across in my 30 hours in this Asian country, I've only seen one woman at the wheel. But I saw one. Now they're going to university, although the faculty isn't mixed. It's divided by gender. "There are even female doctors," they tell me, but then I realise that many men refuse to be treated by them. But they're there.

Now they can access property in their name. But they can't vote. They don't have the right to do this nor do they know when they'll be able to. It's not a matter that's being planned either. Many of them can't go to the doctor alone or decide the most significant things themselves. Yesterday, for example, I asked various women for photos, and those that were with a man had to ask him for permission. All of them were denied. One of them asked for permission from a boy that wouldn't even have been 10 years old, who said no. A boy. He had to have been her brother. "The man decides in the family; he can be the father, the husband, the brother..." they tell me. They also accompany women to the doctor.

Less temptations

The Supercopa de Espana is being held in Jeddah, the most open city in the whole country. There are lots of foreigners there, people from Syria, Pakistan, Jordan... that have a more open mentality. Sometimes, although very rarely, you can see women dressed in western clothing or with their face showing a little. The rest of the country is more conservative. There are places that are very strict with the rules. I've seen restaurants in Jeddah that have one queue for men and one queue for women. The same happens in banks. They try to separate the two sexes as much as possible. When there is less contact, there are less temptations.

Marriage

Women cannot choose their husband in Saudi Arabia - this is decided by the family. She doesn't have a say in the choice. Some men can have up to four wives, although they have to abide by the rules. For example, you're not allowed to marry again and start a family if your wife isn't pregnant. However, tourists are allowed to stay in hotels with their partner, whether they are married to them or not. Before this was punished by a jail sentence. The country wants tourism to be a bigger sector in their economy.

Football

Women are allowed to watch matches in stadiums along with men, and many attended Real Madrid's match with Valencia on Wednesday night. A few months ago, they were only allowed to sit in a segregated section. There are barely any female sports journalists.

Foreigners

The treatment I have received has been fine. I try to keep to the rules, but sometimes it's difficult to not to make a single mistake. Like when I touched the hand of a phone shop employee for giving me a pen to sign. I noted his discomfort and shyness. It also surprised me when a driver stopped me on the street to take some pictures. After stopping me and looking at me, he bent down and asked for my permission. I said yes. He took the photos and continued on his journey, smiling. That being said, Saudi Arabia is in a process of opening up. But it's going to take a while.