Saudi Arabia Women to Vote and Contest in Municipal Elections for the First time

For the first time, Saudi Arabia allowed women to vote and contest in municipal elections. As per a royal decree issued in 2011, the authorities on 29 November 2015 allowed 979 women to register and campaign for 284 municipal councils.

They were out of the total 6917 registered candidates who obtained campaign permits from the authorities in the capital Riyadh.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia held municipal elections in 2005 and 2011, but only men were allowed to take part.

At present, women make up a quarter of the country's Shura Council (Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia), an unelected body appointed by the king that can propose laws but cannot pass them.

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