Driving While Female No Longer Illegal In Saudi Arabia

Saudi King decrees woman shall drive.

Driving while a woman is no longer illegal in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to worldwide media reports, the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz, has signed a royal decree making it legal for women to drive.

The new decree is just the latest in a series of new changes for the kingdom. Earlier this year travel restrictions and study restrictions on women were loosened. One dramatic change to the kingdom, even more surprising than allowing women to drive, is a change to clothing requirements. One resort will even allow women to wear bikinis.

The restrictions imposed on Muslim women globally is a constant source of media attention. However, Saudi Arabia's bans and restrictions always seemed to garner the most attention, due in part to the kingdom's allegiance with the United States. Those looking for a champion to thank for this most recent change may look to Manal Al Sharif, the woman highlighted in our attached video. She drove in Saudi Arabia illegally and was sentenced to nine days in prison. Following her ordeal, she brought the ban to the attention of the world.