Riyadh - News of the decision became the top trending on social media
Published: Wed 27 Sep 2017, 11:24 AM
Last updated: Wed 27 Sep 2017, 7:08 PM
Saudi Arabia will allow women to drive, state media reported late Tuesday, citing a royal decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, on Tuesday.
The decree has ordered that a ministerial body be set up to give advice within 30 days and that the order will be implemented by June 2018.
** Women will be allowed to drive cars for the first time in Saudi Arabia; the decree that will be implemented by June 24, 2018
** There are about 10 million women, including foreigners, over the age of 20 living in the Kingdom, according to the official statistics bureau |
"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.
"Saudi Arabia allows women to drive," the Kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Twitter, according to Arab News.
To celebrate Tuesday's decree, several Saudi women posted images on social media deleting their ride sharing apps. News of the decision became the top trending on Twitter, with many posts tagged #SaudiWomenCanDrive.
US President Donald Trump commended the order in a White House press office statement that called the change "a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia." US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called the move "a great step in the right direction."
Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, also welcomed the Saudi decision, writing on Twitter that it represented "an important step in the right direction."
Lori Boghardt, a Gulf specialist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the change is yet another sign that the Crown Prince is intent on adopting social reforms that will transform the Kingdom.
"Today it's especially clear that this includes moves that've long been thought of by Saudis as politically risky," she said.
The Latest on Saudi Arabia allowing women to drive:
Saudi car rental, insurance shares rise on decree letting women drive
** Shares of Saudi Arabian car rental and leasing company United International Transportation (Budget Saudi) jump 6.0 percent to 24.40 riyals and car servicing company Saudi Automotive adds 0.8 percent to 18.84 riyals in opening minutes of trade
** Shares in insurance companies are also strong on expectations that demand for car insurance will rise; Walaa Cooperative Insurance climbs 2.3 per cent
** Saudi stock index is up 0.1 per cent
UN head welcomes Saudi move
The secretary-general of the United Nations has hailed Saudi Arabia's move. Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter early Wednesday: "I welcome Saudi Arabia's decision to lift the ban on women drivers. An important step in the right direction."
Trump hails Saudi 'positive step'
US President Donald Trump congratulated Saudi Arabia for its decision to join the rest of the world in allowing women to drive, calling it a "positive step" for the Kingdom.
"President Donald J. Trump commends Saudi Arabia's decision to affirm the right of women to drive in the kingdom," a White House statement read.
"This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia.
"We will continue to support Saudi Arabia in its to efforts to strengthen Saudi society and the economy through reforms like this and the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030."
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has congratulated Saudi Arabian women after King Salman issued an order allowing them to get behind the wheel.
"Today was a historic day for women in Saudi Arabia as a decree was announced to lift the ban on women drivers. #SaudiArabia," Ivanka, who has 4.62 million followers, posted on Twitter.
US welcomes Saudi move
The United States has welcomed Saudi Arabia's announcement that women will be allowed to drive for the first time.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says the US is "happy" with the move.
Nauert is calling it "a great step in the right direction for that country." But Nauert isn't commenting on whether Saudi Arabia still needs to do more to ensure full rights for its female citizens.
The move comes as Saudi Arabia works to improve its image and the perception of its human rights record in the United States and the West.
Saudi envoy says women driving is a 'huge step'
Prince Khaled bin Salman, the new Saudi ambassador to Washington, says letting women drive is a "huge step forward" for his country.
He tells reporters in Washington that it was the right time for Saudi Arabia to do the right thing. The ambassador says his government views women driving as a social issue, not a religious or cultural issue.
Salman says women won't need permission legally from a male guardian to get a driver's license and won't need a guardian in the vehicle with them to drive. He says Saudi Arabia will recognise driver's licenses issued to women in other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Saudi activist hails driving as 'first step'
One of Saudi Arabia's most vocal women's rights activists says the decision to allow women to drive is a "great first step."
Aziza Youssef told The Associated Press by phone from Riyadh that she was "really excited" about Tuesday's announcement, calling it a "good step forward for women's rights."
Women's rights activists since the 1990s have been pushing for the right to drive, saying it represents their larger struggle for equal rights under the law.
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
