The Conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia. long criticised for its constraints on women , will get its first woman ambassador in Riyadh with the appointment of a female envoy from Belgium , according to reports in the Belgian Media.According to local news reports , Belgium will send Dominique mineur , currently the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates , to Riyadh next summer , making her the first woman ambassador in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is well known as one of the world's most gender - segregated nations , where women live under the super vision of a male guardian , and in public must wear head - to - toe garments . Saudi Arabia was ranked 138 of 144 countries in the 2017 Global Gender Gap , a world Economic Forum study on how women fare in economic and political participation. health and education.
The deeply conservative Muslim kingdom has announced a raft of reforms recently including allowing women to drive cars, trucks and ride motorcycles next year , after being the only country in the would that banned women from being on the road. Mineur's appointment , in addition to reports that the European country will also send a female ambassador to Tehran , has not been officially announced by Belgium's ministry of foreign affairs.
However , in a speech in Brussels on Monday , Belgian foreign minister Didler Reynders said the decision to appoint female envoys to place
s like Theran and Riyadh, " should have been obvious ."