Saudi Arabia

Shura Council

Political system: Monarchy
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Year of first woman in parliament: 2013
Year of first woman speaker: Not applicable

Notes: No woman has occupied the function of Speaker in the country.

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: No information available
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: The law of 1977 granted universal suffrage to all citizens, without any specific restrictions on women. The Electoral law of August 2004 granted universal unconditional suffrage. However, only men had the right to vote in the 2005 partial municipal elections. Technical reasons, such as the difficulty of organizing a voting office for women, were quoted as the explanation for why women did not take part.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: No information available
Restricted or universal: No information available