Saudi students can now travel abroad to study overseas without a need of a permit from their guardians, this includes students under the age of 21.

All the students need to travel is a proof of their scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports announced on Monday

This clarification comes after a number of reforms have been announced in a royal decree last month, first giving the right for every Saudi citizen to obtain a passport, for Saudi women to travel without permission from a male guardian and now this.

The royal decree has been certainly welcomed and found to be a huge step towards attaining the 2030 vision, that ensures a better quality of life for citizens.

State news agency SPA reported on Tuesday that King Abdul Aziz Port (KAP) has given female crane operators their operating permits, making them Saudi Arabia’s very first females to take on such a job.

The female operators will work on the remote controlled cranes which are used in light of KAP’s attempt of introducing new technologies at its container terminals in all departments, the terminal is also the first of its kind to be operated by the International Ports Services Ltd (IPS).

KAP, supervised by the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), handled 23 million tons of cargo in July – marking an 11.15% increase in comparison to the same time last year.

Saudi women no longer require a permission from a “male guardian” to travel or obtain a passport and can now travel independently, a royal decree signed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz indicated,

The decree, which was issued three days ago, clearly states that women like any other individual have the right of obtaining a passport, and that a guardian’s approval will only be needed for minors.

The statement of the decree is written in a gender-neutral way and doesn’t in any way put restrictions to a specific segment.

Here’s how some of the prominent Saudi figures reacted to the change, and their thoughts about it that was shared on twitter.

It is 1 am in #NYC
And I can't sleep.

The changes that occurred today in setting سن الرشد the age of adulthood for women and men at 21 is so much more than lifting the travel permission.

It signals full equality in the eye of the law. It signals what modern Sharia is capable of

— Muna AbuSulayman منى (@abusulayman) August 2, 2019

Also hailing the changes is of course Saudi ambassador to the US Reema bint Bandar Al Saud.

I am elated to confirm that KSA will be enacting amendments to its labor and civil laws that are designed to elevate the status of Saudi women within our society, including granting them the right to apply for passports and travel independently. 1/4

— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) August 2, 2019

Ever since the Saudi Vision 2030 was launched and the Saudi authorities have been addressing the flaws in the system that stand against women living their lives freely and securely.

Such a step is considered to be yet another major change, that follows the issuing of driving licenses to women, and the inclusion of women in the consultative council.

These new regulations are history in the making. They call for the equal engagement of women and men in our society. It is a holistic approach to gender equality that will unquestionably create real change for Saudi women. 3/4

— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) August 2, 2019