Saudi Arabia’s Women are to be allowed the right to cast their vote and run in future municipal polls, King Abdullah has declared.
He said they would also have the right to be assigned to the advising Shura Council.
The decision was appreciated by campaigners who have called for biggest rights for women in the kingdom, which implements a stern version of Sunni Islamic law.
The modification will happen after municipal elections on Thursday, the king said.
King Abdullah declared the decision in an address at the launching of the fresh term of the Shura Council.
"Because we reject to marginalize women in society in all roles that obey with sharia, we have made a decision, after interaction with our senior ulama clerics and others... to engage women in the Shura Council as members, initiating from next tenure" he said.
"Women will be capable to contest as contestant in the municipal poll and will even have a right to vote."
It is an unusual move for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not permitted to drive, or to leave the country by yourself.
She says there has been a large argued about the job of women in the kingdom and, though not everybody will greet the conclusion, such a formation will reduce some of the pressure that has been mounting over the issue.
Saudi writer Nimah Ismail Nawwab told "This is amazing we have long lingered for and long worked towards."
She said campaigners had been campaigning for 20 years on driving, protection and voting issues.
In May in excess of 60 scholars called for a rejection of Thursday's election saying "municipal councils require the authority to efficiently accomplish their role".
Municipal polls are the only public elections in Saudi Arabia.
More than 5,000 men will run in municipal polls on Thursday - the second-ever in the kingdom - to fill up half the seats in local councils while the other half are selected by the government.
The next municipal polls are due in four years' time.
