Moments after the royal order to issue driving licenses for women in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's ambassador to the United Nations, Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Moalimi, broke the news to the UN on Tuesday night.

The Saudi envoy said cheerily: "You may be interested to know that a few minutes ago, a royal decree has been issued in Saudi Arabia giving women the right to drive.”

“This is a historic day for Saudi society, for men and women, we can now say at last,” he added.

The attendees applauded this important decision for Saudi society and for women in particular.

Saudi King Salman issued a historic royal decree on Tuesday evening to issue driver's licenses for women in Saudi Arabia.

The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licenses for men and women alike.

A high-level committee of ministries (internal affairs, finance, labor and social development) are to take care of the necessary arrangements to fully implement it by June 2018.

The resolution was welcomed by the United States as a positive and historic step. It was also welcomed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who saw it as a step on the right path.

source: Alarabiya