Saudi Arabia starts issuing driving licences to women

Saudi Arabia on Monday started issuing driving licences to women, in a landmark move that would open up the previously male-only venues to families. This is the latest move to expand rights for women in Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom, which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, has long barred women from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public.

The announcement is in line with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reform drive shaking up the ultra-conservative kingdom, including the decision to allow women to drive from next June.

Last year, authorities allowed hundreds of women to throng a sports stadium in Riyadh, used mostly for football matches, for the first time to mark Saudi Arabia's national day.