Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said women in the conservative Islamic kingdom will have the right to join the advisory Shura Council as full members and participate in future municipal elections, meeting a key goal of liberal activists.
"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama (clerics) and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from the next term," he said in a speech delivered to the Shura Council.
"Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote," he added.
Activists in the country have long called for greater rights for women, who are barred from travelling, working or having medical operations without the permission of a male relative and are forbidden from driving.
Those changes will come after municipal elections this Thursday, for which women have been barred from voting or standing office.
This is great news," said Wajeha al-Huwaider, a Saudi writer and women's rights activist. "Women's voices will finally be heard.
"Now it is time to remove other barriers like not allowing women to drive cars and not being able to function, to live a normal life without male guardians."
The king did not address the issue of women being allowed to drive. Although there is no written law against women driving, they are not issued licences, effectively banning the practice.
Women in Saudi Arabia must also have written approval from a male guardian - a father, husband, brother or son - to leave the country, work or even undergo certain medical operations.
Agencies