Women in Saudi Arabia can now open their own businesses without the consent of a husband or male relative, announced the Saudi government on Thursday. #مايحتاج موافقة ولي أمر المرأة، لتبدأ عملها التجاري https://t.co/OA2UzPQEdL pic.twitter.com/BSYfGPfaiQ — وزارة التجارة والاستثمار (@SaudiMCI) February 19, 2018 “Women can now launch their own businesses and benefit from (governmental) e-services without having to prove consent from a guardian,” announced the spokesman of Saudi Arabia’s ministry of commerce and investment on twitter, followed by a hashtag #NoNeed. A new system that carries out all start-up procedures electronically, with no special permissions required, has been made available to Saudi Women on Sunday, as opposed to getting a guardian’s approval and visiting a notary to document the founding of a company, which women had to do in the past. The guardianship system in Saudi Arabia presents many challenges for women. To do any government paperwork, travel or enroll in classes, women are required to present proof of permission from a male guardian – normally the husband, father or brother. The kingdom ranked 136 out of 142 countries in the 2017 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap index. The announcement comes…
Saudi Women to Own Businesses Without Male Consent Following a Royal Decree Allowing Women to Drive
February 21, 2018
