Saudi Arabia: The status of women's rights and laws in 2025
Rights for Saudi women are still far from equal but there have been big recent positive changes. While rights for women have steadily improved over the past decade under the modernising reforms of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia remains near the bottom of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Index, coming 132nd out of 148 countries in the 2025 report. Critics continue to express significant concerns about the status of women in Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that some restrictions have been lifted.
Driving and Travel Restrictions
In 2018, Saudi women were allowed to drive in the kingdom for the first time. Restrictions on travelling abroad were loosened a year later, allowing women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport and leave the kingdom without the permission of a male guardian. And, since 2021, women have been permitted to go to Mecca to perform Hajj without a male relative, as long as they are travelling with other women. However, human-rights groups have highlighted instances of targeted travel restrictions, with Amnesty International claiming female activists have been subject to travel bans, both official and unofficial, in some cases lasting several years.
The Male Guardianship System (Wilaya)
The concept of guardianship, or wilaya, is deeply rooted in Islamic doctrine. In Saudi Arabia, this traditionally meant that every woman had a wali, a male guardian who makes decisions on her behalf – typically her father, and then her husband after marriage, although guardians can be brothers, sons, uncles or even male judges. This has meant that women were essentially treated as minors, in legal terms, for their entire lives.
Since 2019, however, the system has undergone some reform. Women aged over 21 no longer need their guardian’s approval to access healthcare, education and state services, take up a job or make their own medical decisions about pregnancy and birth. In February, Saudi Arabia’s Official Gazette published additional details on the implementation of the law. These grant women the right to seek the transfer of guardianship if a male guardian is negligent or unjust.
Marriage and the Personal Status Law
Saudi Arabia has made some efforts to reform marriage-related laws but the influence of guardianship and traditional customs remains significant. The Personal Status Law (PSL), which was introduced on International Women’s Day in 2022, actually codifies many traditional Islamic rules into law. While the codification of the PSL introduced “significant reforms”, the guardian’s consent remained required in multiple areas, including a woman’s right to get married, get divorced or leave certain institutions, such as a prison or a domestic-abuse shelter.
Regarding domestic life, married women are required by law to obey their husband “in a reasonable manner” or risk losing their right to financial support. Neither husband nor wife can abstain from sex without their spouse’s consent. On a positive note, the law also set the minimum age at which women can marry at 18.
Summary of Key Indicators and Legal Changes
The following table outlines the timeline of reforms and the current standing of Saudi Arabia regarding gender equality:
| Category | Key Reform or Metric | Year/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Driving | Women permitted to drive in the kingdom | 2018 |
| Travel | Passport and travel allowed without guardian (over 21) | 2019 |
| Hajj | Pilgrimage without male relative allowed | 2021 |
| Marriage Age | Minimum legal age set at 18 | 2022 |
| Global Standing | Global Gender Index Rank | 132nd out of 148 (2025) |
Current Legal Protections
- Autonomy: Women over 21 can access state services and healthcare without guardian approval.
- Employment: Guardian's consent is no longer legally required to take up a job.
- Guardianship Transfer: Women can seek transfer of guardianship if the male guardian is negligent.
- Judicial Consistency: The PSL prevents judges from using individual interpretations of Islamic principles.