May 14, 2026

Saudi Arabia Elects First Woman Councillor

By Farouk Mohammed

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Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi, has become the first woman to be elected into a public office in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom allowed women for the first time to vote or vie for elected positions.

The election of Oteibi as a municipal councilor is viewed as a landmark achievement in the largely conservative country. The country imposes a series of restrictions on women, including driving.

A total of 978 women registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. Saudi officials said 130,000 women registered to vote in Saturday’s election while the number of men registered are 1.35 million. Saudi electoral law also forbids women from addressing men directly during campaign.

Ms Oteibi who won a seat on the council in Madrakah in Mecca province was running against seven men and two women.

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