Kingdom’s foreign ministry has given the green light for qualified women to represent the country abroad
Saudi Arabia could be on the verge of appointing its first female ambassador after the foreign ministry said it did not oppose the idea, local media reported.
Senior ministry officials and members of the king’s advisory body, the Shoura Council, would discuss the issue at an upcoming council meeting, a Foreign Ministry spokesman reportedly said.
Saudi women already represent their country abroad as undersecretaries or attaches, Arab News said. Those women are usually members of the ruling family or elite classes.
Women have been gradually gaining more rights, including employment, under King Abdullah. There are now 30 women on the 150-member Shoura Council.
However, they are not allowed to travel outside the kingdom without the permission of their father, husband or other male relative.
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