Gender Quotas Database

Saudi Arabia has no provision for direct elections at a national level, while in 2005 a limited number of advisory councils at the sub-national level introduced directly-elected seats for the first time. The Consultative Council is an advisory body, which is appointed by the King for a term of four years, whereby members are chosen from among scholars, those of knowledge, expertise and specialists’ (Shura Council Law, Royal Decree No. A/91, 1 March 1992).

Before the introduction of the Royal Order stipulating a 20 % quota for women, the Shura Council was always an all-male body. For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, women gained the right to contest seats and participate as voters in municipal elections of 2015. While marking a significant opening for women to gain more active role in public affairs, the decree clarifying the rules of municipal elections did not allow women candidates to publish their pictures in election campaign materials, justifying the move to be in line with the principles of Saudi society.