In 2011, King Abdullah officially announced that Saudi Arabia shall give its women the right to cast their electoral votes and also to contest in the elections. The announcement will be put to effect in December 2015. Women for the first time in Saudi Arabia have started registering for the elections with Jamal Al-Saadi and Safinaz Abu Al-Shamat being the first women to register as voters.
This decision implies that Saudi women will now form a crucial part of the process of national decision making. The much awaited reformation has made the women happy and hopeful. It is being considered to be a significant step forward towards development for women in the society.
