Saudi Arabia to allow women to drive: state media

Saudi Arabian state media says provisions are being made for driving licenses to be issued to woman. The ultra-conservative kingdom is the only country in the world where women are not allowed behind the wheel.

Deutsche Welle, 26 Sep 2017

A Saudi woman at the wheel (picture-alliance/dpa)

Citing a royal decree, Saudi state media on Tuesday reported that women would be allowed to drive.

"The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licenses for men and women alike," the Saudi Press Agency said.

The highly conservative Muslim kingdom has some of the world's tightest curbs on women's freedoms, and is the only country in the world where they are not allowed to drive.

A ministerial body is to be formed to give advice within 30 days, with the order to be implemented by June 2018, according to state news agency SPA.

Approval needed

Under the country's guardianship system, male family members - normally a woman's father, husband or brother - must give their permission for her to study or travel.

However, the kingdom appears to have relaxed some rules as part of its "Vision 2030" plan for economic and social reforms championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The news was welcomed by the US State Department which called it "a great step in the right direction."

Last November, Saudi Arabia's outspoken Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, called for an "urgent" end to the ban on women driving.

rc/kms (AFP, dpa)

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