Saudi Arabia to allow women to drive

Gulf News -- Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced that it would allow women to drive, state media reported.

King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz ordered the reform in a royal decree issued on Tuesday night. In the decree, King Salman requested that driving licensees be issued to women who wanted them.

State-run Saudi Press Agency and state TV reported that a committee will be formed to look into how to implement the new order.

Human rights groups have long campaigned for the kingdom to overturn the ban on women driving on Saudi roads.

Some women have been arrested and jailed for defying the ban. Last month, Saudi police arrested an Arab woman after video circulated showing her driving a car in the Eastern Province. 

The ban has been at times challenged by women who were then accused of “stirring up public opinion” and the debate over allowing women to drive has been exceptionally heated on social media.

The presence of thousands of male drivers to drive mainly Saudi women and girls has been regularly used by supporters of allowing women to drive to highlight negative social and economic problems.

The arguments have also been boosted by “grave concerns” felt by several women when riding with taxi drivers.

In April 2013, Saudi billionaire Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal ignited the debate by tweeting in favour of allowing women to drive.

“Allowing women to drive will result in saving at least 500,000 jobs held by foreign drivers and subsequent economic and social benefits for the nation,” Al Waleed posted.

The United States welcomed Saudi Arabia's announcement. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the US was "happy" with the move. Nauert called it "a great step in the right direction for that country."