Over the past two years, citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(KSA) have witnessed huge legal reforms related to women's
rights. The most anticipated and exiting amendments were recently
announced pursuant to Royal Decree number (M/34) dated 27/11/1440
corresponding to 30/07/2019. This decree constituted the amendment
of four different laws, granting men and women equal civil rights,
as well as freedom of independent movement, while ensuring equality
for women in the work place.
The first amendment was made to the travel documents law. The
change allows women to now issue, renew, and receive their own
passports, instead of restricting this right to male citizens.
Prior to this amendment, passports of female citizens used to be
issued only after a request submitted by their male guardians,
following which, only the guardian was authorized to receive it. In
addition, a Saudi woman was required to carry a travel permit
issued by her male guardian, through the Saudi
