Its not an overstatement – this weekend at the outskirts of Riyadh were nothing short of historic.

Thousands people, some literally from the other side of the world, gathered in Riyadh’s historic Diriyah district for Formula E over the weekend

(For those unaware – Formula E is a motor sports tournament using electric vehicles.)

This year’s race was held in Riyadh, being the first time the event took place in the Middle East. But that’s not the only reason this year’s event was a very big deal.

The event showed the world exactly the direction Saudi Arabia is heading to

Taking place in the first #Saudi capital Ad Diriyah, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship @FIAFormulaE celebrates high octane energy, a dedication to a cleaner future, and the world’s top racers! #KSA #SaudiArabia #FormulaE #ABBFormulaE #AdDiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/QYOBrmGoIx

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— Saudi Arabia (@saudiarabia) December 14, 2018

International superstars including David Guetta, Black Eyed Peas, One Republic, and Jason Derulo performed at the side event for the race but they were so much more than just concerts – it showed the direction the entertainment industry is going for the country.

Social media was flooded by Saudi men and women sharing pictures and videos of the concert – a huge milestone in a country where the ban on concerts and cinemas was JUST lifted some months ago.

Superstars @amrdiab and the Black Eyed Peas @bep from last night’s concert during @FIAFormulaE – the crowds went wild! #KSA #SaudiArabia #Saudi #ABBFormulaE #AdDiriyahEPrix pic.twitter.com/xUquUduyM1

— Saudi Arabia (@saudiarabia) December 15, 2018

That’s not all – the thousands of people who flew in to attend the event reflect that the country is officially ready and embracing tourists.

Tourism is very high on the Saudi agenda – expected to go up to $46.6 billion in 2020 from $27.9 billion in 2015 – and this is that first major step in that direction.

Plus, the Crown Prince personally visiting the event and taking pictures with other attendees reflects the strong bond between the country and its leadership.

All these things reflect that Saudi Arabia is taking and we are all here for it.