City
Epaper

Saudi Arabia allows women to travel independently

By IANS | Updated: August 2, 2019 11:15 IST

Saudi Arabian women will no longer require a permission from a "male guardian" to travel or obtain a passport, according to a royal decree signed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Open in App

The decree, issued three days ago, clearly stresses the right of every Saudi citizen to obtain a passport, and limits the need for a guardian's approval to minors only, Arab News reported late Thursday.

The decree is written in a gender-neutral manner, and does not state any restrictions specific to women.

Until now, Saudi women have had to seek permission from a male guardian - a husband, father or other male relative to obtain a passport or travel abroad.

Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom's authorities have addressed all flaws in the system that prevented women from living their lives securely and free from unnecessary hassles.

Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US, on Friday morning said she was "elated" to confirm the new changes to the country's labour and civil law.

In a series of tweets, she said the amendments were "designed to elevate the status of Saudi women within our society, including granting them the right to apply for passports and travel independently", Arab News reported.

"These new regulations are history in the making. They call for the equal engagement of women and men in our society. It is a holistic approach to gender equality that will unquestionably create real change for Saudi women.

"Women have always played an integral role in our country's development, and they will continue to do so moving forward on equal footing with their male counterparts," she tweeted.

A number of international media outlets reported earlier this year that the decision to remove all restrictions on women travelling was being discussed at the highest levels of government and was due to be implemented before the end of this year.

Saudi Arabia's ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has eased restrictions in the country such as a ban on women driving as part of a big push to open up the country, the BBC reported.

In 2016, he unveiled a plan to transform the economy by 2030, with the aim of increasing women's participation in the workforce to 30 per cent from 22 per cent.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Saudi Vision 2030Saudi ArabiaArab NewsCrown Prince Mohammedbbc
Open in App

Related Stories

FootballNAS 5–2 NAJ: Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Double After Injury Return in Saudi Pro League 2026 (Watch Videos)

InternationalSaudi Arabia: Iranian Drone Debris Damages Homes in Al-Kharj

InternationalIranian Missile, Drone Attack on US Base in Saudi Arabia Injures At Least 10 American Troops

InternationalDonald Trump Claims ‘Mohammed bin Salman Is With Us’ Amid Iran War, Signals Saudi Support

LifestyleEid 2026 Date: When Will Saudi Arabia, UAE and India Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr?

International Realted Stories

InternationalIran claims to down one US aircraft involved in rescue op for the missing F-15 crew member

InternationalWe got him: Trump on rescue of second crew member of US jet downed in Iran

InternationalFormer Indian Ambassador lauds "proactive govt measures" as India navigates "disproportionate" LPG hit amid West Asia tensions

International"US never consulted NATO allies before striking against Iran": Former ambassador Sunjay Sudhir

InternationalNo trend of Indians leaving UAE in large numbers amid West Asia crisis: Former ambassador Sunjay Sudhir