• King Salman issued decree on Tuesday allowing women to drive for first time
  • Ministerial body told to implement the degree by June 2018, state media says
  • Saudi Arabia is the only country to forbid women from holding driving licences

By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 20:17 BST, 26 September 2017 | Updated: 20:25 BST, 26 September 2017

Saudi Arabia’s king has issued a degree that will allow women to hold driving licences for the first time.

King Salman ordered the formation of a ministerial body to give advice within 30 days and then implement the order by June 2018, state media said.

Until now, Saudi Arabia was the only country to specifically forbid women from holding driving licences.

Saudi King Salman has issued a royal decree which will allow women to hold driving licences for the first time from June next year

Saudi King Salman has issued a royal decree which will allow women to hold driving licences for the first time from June next year

It comes after the Muslim kingdom was elected to the United Nations women’s rights commission, despite a terrible record on the issue.

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