Women in Saudi Arabia no longer need male permission to open businesses

The latest move in reform marks a major step away from the guardianship system

epa06537635 A Saudi women sells coffee mugs and cups with female faces drawings on them at Al-Sharqiya (Eastern) Province pavilion during Al- Janadria festival near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 17 February 2018. Al-Janadria festival is the biggest cultural heritage festival held in Saudi Arabia, the 2018 edition opened on 07 February for 4 days to men only, then to families which translates to a mixed gender attendance. A few days after it opened though, the authorities announced it would last three weeks longer to enable Saudi people to enjoy visiting its government pavilions, cultural shows and exhibits and various entertainment representations present this year. The 2018 edition of the festival bore a fair atmosphere where Saudis get to have fun where it was frowned upon before, as part of the changes the countries has seen since 2017. EPA/AMEL PAIN — A Saudi women sells coffee mugs and cups with female faces drawings on them at Al Sharqiya Province pavilion during Al Janadria festival near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 17, 2018. Amel Pain / EPA

Feb 18, 2018

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Women in Saudi Arabia can now open their own businesses without the consent of a male guardian in the latest move in a wave of changes in the country.

The announcement follows the kingdom's historical decisions to allow women to drive next June and allowing them to enter previously male-only sports stadiums.

It marks a major step away from the guardianship system that stipulates a woman needs the consent of a husband or male relative to do any government work, travel or enrol in classes.

"Women can now launch their own businesses and benefit from [governmental] e-services without having to prove consent from a guardian," the ministry of commerce and investment said on its website on Thursday.

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Abdel Rahman Al Hussein, Ministry of commerce and Investment spokesman, said in a tweet: ““No need for a guardian’s permission. Saudi women are free to start their own business freely.”

#مايحتاج موافقة ولي أمر المرأة لتبدأ عملها التجاري pic.twitter.com/Z1DOY3goXy
— عبدالرحمن الحسين (@aalhusain) February 15, 2018

The change comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rolls out his "Vision 2030" plan for economic and social reforms, which aims to increase women's workforce participation to 30 per cent from about 22 per cent now.

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The country is pushing to expand its private sector, as the young crown prince aims to shed the kingdom’s conservative image and reduce dependence on oil revenues.

Last month, Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor’s office said it will start recruiting female investigators.

Also, the General Directorate of Passports opened 140 positions for women at airports and border crossing, a move that the government said drew more than 100,000 applicants.