The Khadija bint Khuwailid Center, based at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, first made a recommendation to politically empower women in 2007, according to the center’s Executive Director Basma Omair.

“We demanded Saudi women’s participation in the Shoura Council and the Council of Ministers in 2007. In 2011 we demanded the right for women to vote and enter the municipal council elections among other recommendations,” she said.

“Now these dreams have turned to reality after the king’s decision to empower women.”

Saudi women have been given a powerful political and human right following the king’s decision, said Suhaila Zain Al-Abideen, a Saudi activist for children and women’s rights and a member of the National Society of Human’s Rights’ executive board.

“Saudi women are now qualified to be in leading positions, and I believe that it is one of the imperatives to achieve balance in our society and community,” she said. “The Shoura Council is crippled by having only men’s opinions. After this decision, the Shoura can walk on both legs because it has both sides represented. I hope that the number of women who will be appointed to the Shoura Council will be the same as men.”

Columnist at Al-Watan newspaper and professor of linguistics at King Abdulaziz University’s girls college Amira Kashgari said this was a historic event that would push Saudi women toward higher achievements.

“I believe this event is an umbrella that will cover so many achievements of Saudi women in the near future. Political participation and empowering women means that they are citizens and can hold high ranks in their country,” she said.

“This will help women gain other social and civil rights. Woman have been in the Shoura Council as consultants only but they needed to become fully involved in the decision-making process. I believe that eligible women who have experience in all areas, not only social and business, are going to be able to apply for this job. Women with a passion to serve their community and their country are the ones who are fit to be in the Shoura Council.”

Naila Attar, businesswoman and founder of the Baladi (My Town) campaign calling for women to be able to vote and participate in the municipal council elections, said Saudi women have proved that they can achieve their goals after a consistent fight for their rights.

“Our campaign calls for the right to be hired in the municipality in the latest round at least,” she said. “We demanded that women hold at least three chairs in their local municipal council. Even if a woman did not win in the election, she still has the right to work for the municipality like men. We already have an awareness plan to educate women about the municipal council and the elections.”

Saudi women expected the king’s speech to be about the issue of women driving and nothing else, according to women's rights activist and assistant professor of women's history at King Saud University Hatoon Al-Fassi.

“Women have been working hard to gain their right to be a part of the municipal election for a long time but they had not achieved their goal. Now we are grateful and happy that we have received this positive message that we are complete citizens who have the right to vote,” she said. “We hope from this moment on we’ll be treated as equal to men in both councils. The municipal council elections are due this week and we hope that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will postpone it to implement the new orders and make it possible for women to participate.”

Saudi women being allowed to enter the Shoura and municipal councils is more important than driving their own car, said Mona Siraj, managing editor at Sayidaty Magazine.

“I believe women’s participation in these councils will help reflect the reality of our society. Women should start preparing and educate themselves, their sons and daughters about the importance of dialogue, democracy and political and social awareness,” she said. “We should also change our school curriculum and teach students how to accept women in all fields, not just as mothers. This is the time for women to shine and prove that they are worthy of this position and even more. We should expand our knowledge about politics and finance because change is in our hands now.”