King Salman’s historic decree issued Tuesday night ordering that women will be allowed to drive has been welcomed by foreign missions and diplomats in Riyadh, describing it as an important step taken in the right direction.
This welcome decision allowing women to get behind the wheel was announced in a royal decree saying a ministerial body will look into it to facilitate the implementation of the order and for issuing driving license to women by June 2018.
Appreciating the historic move, the US Embassy, in a statement given to Arab News said: “This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia.”
“President Donald Trump commends the Kingdom’s decision to affirm the right of women to drive in the Kingdom,” it said.
“We will continue to support Saudi Arabia in its efforts to strengthen Saudi society and the economy through reforms like this and the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030,” it added.
Welcoming the move Simon Collis, British ambassador to Saudi Arabia said: “I welcome the decision to allow women to drive as an important step toward gender equality.”
“This is not only the right thing to do, it is an essential step in the economic and social development of Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 reform program,” he underlined.
“This decision also sends a clear message to the world that the changes in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 are real and significant,” the British ambassador noted.
He further pointed that British Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson discussed these and other reforms during their visits to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and have welcomed this important step.
The UK will continue to work in close partnership with Saudi Arabia as it builds on this progress, said Collis.
Commending the landmark decision, German Ambassador Dieter W. Haller told Arab News on Wednesday: “This is indeed a very good decision which has been received very positively in the prime news last night and today.”
“It will certainly boost the image of Saudi Arabia in Europe including Germany, and will send a good message about women’s emancipation in the Kingdom,” the envoy said.
Echoing the sentiments, Italian Ambassador in Riyadh Luca Ferrari said: “The decree by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to allow Saudi women to have driving licenses is not only a wise decision, but it is also proof (once again) of the modernity that King Salman has embraced together with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“For Saudi women, it is another very important milestone on the road to emancipation and empowerment,” the Italian envoy said adding, “It represents a historical conquest that discloses potential new ones. It is the recognition that the Saudi female population will ever more actively participate in the political and economic life of the Kingdom, as it is right that they should.”
The decree puts a final stop to an anti-historical and anti-economic stance, he said.
It represents another step toward the changes in the Saudi economy and society pictured ironically by the crown princes’ Vision 2030, he added.
Gregor W. Koessler, the Austrian ambassador, praised it saying: “It is a highly commendable decision by King Salman which will help to bring Saudi society up to speed with the necessary economic reforms set under Vision 2030 promoted by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.”
“It will not only empower women to have better access to the job market, but also boost the image of the Kingdom abroad,” asserted Koessler.
Finland’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Pekka Voutilainen said: “It is really excellent news for Saudi women being allowed to drive.”
“I truly appreciate the visionary leadership of King Salman and the crown prince on how women’s role should shape … It is a very positive development,” he added.
Applauding the move, South Korean Ambassador Pyung-oh Kwon told Arab News: “It is indeed a great step and very forward-looking decision, a brave measure toward the reforms underway under the visionary leadership.”
“It will obviously positively affect on Saudi society and the economy as Vision 2030 aims,” he said.