Saudi Arabia finally allows women to travel independently
- The regulation allows women over the age of 21 to obtain passports and leave the country without their guardian’s permission
- The ruling comes as the kingdom faces heightened scrutiny over its human rights record
The landmark reform erodes the long-standing guardianship system that renders women permanently as legal minors and allows their “guardians” – husband, father and other male relatives – to exercise arbitrary authority over them.
The decision, following years of campaigning by activists, comes after high-profile attempts by women to escape their guardians despite a string of reforms, including a historic decree last year that overturned the world’s only ban on female motorists.
“A passport will be granted to any Saudi national who submits an application,” said a government ruling published in the official gazette Umm Al Qura.
The regulation effectively allows women over the age of 21 to obtain passports and leave the country without their guardian’s permission, the pro-government Okaz newspaper and other local media reported, citing senior authorities.
