Saudi Arabia allows women to start business without male permission

Women in Saudi Arabia can now open their own businesses without the consent of a husband or male relative. The policy change, announced by the Saudi government on Thursday, also marks a major step away from the strict guardianship system that has ruled the country for decades. 

Country's Ministry of Commerce and investment said on its website that women can now launch their own businesses and benefit from governmental



e-services without having to prove consent from a guardian. 

Under Saudi Arabia's guardianship system, women are required to present proof of permission from a male guardian to do any government paperwork, travel or enrol in classes. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne, has been leading the drive to expand the role of women in the workforce in recent months