RIYADH: The dance party in Atheer Jassem Al-Othman's living room was in full swing. The guests – about two dozen girls in their late teens – had arrived, and Othman and her mother were passing around cups of sweet tea and dishes of dates.

About half the girls were swaying and gyrating, without the slightest self-consciousness, among the overstuffed sofas, the heavy draperies, the tables larded with figurines and ornately covered tissue boxes. Their abayas, balled up and tossed onto chairs, looked like black cloth puddles.

Suddenly, the music stopped, and an 18-year-old named Alia tottered forward.

“Girls, I have something to tell you.” Alia faltered, appearing to sway slightly on her high heels. She paused anxiously, and the next words came out in a rush. “I've gotten engaged!”

There was a chorus of shrieks at the announcement and Alia burst into tears, as did several of the other girls. Othman's mother smiled and left the room, leaving the girls to their moment of emotion. They had been friends since they were middle school age, and Alia would be the first to marry.

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