Kenya, March 31 -- In a groundbreaking statement poised to reshape social norms in the Kingdom, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared on Monday, March 31, 2025, that "From now on, women in Saudi Arabia will be able to decide what they wear without male permission."
The announcement, made during an exclusive interview with state broadcaster Al Arabiya, marks a significant departure from decades of strict dress codes and male guardianship laws, signalling a bold new chapter in the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 reform agenda.
The Crown Prince's declaration builds on years of incremental changes to women's rights in Saudi Arabia, a nation long governed by conservative interpretations of Islamic law and tribal customs.
"The time has come for Saudi women to have full autonomy over their personal choices, starting with what they wear," he said, speaking from his office in Riyadh.
"This is not just about clothing-it's about dignity, freedom, and trust in our people to uphold our values without coercion."
While details of the policy's implementation remain forthcoming, aides to the Crown Prince suggested it would effectively dismantle the requirement for women to seek male guardian approval for attire, a rule rooted in the kingdom's guardianship system.
The move appears to expand on a 2018 statement by Prince Mohammed, when he told CBS's 60 Minutes that Sharia law mandates only "decent, respectful clothing" and does not specify mandatory abayas or headscarves, leaving such choices to women.
Today's announcement takes that rhetoric further, explicitly removing male oversight.
Saudi Arabia has historically enforced a strict dress code, with women required to wear abayas-loose, full-length robes-often in black, and frequently headscarves or niqabs in public.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, known as the religious police or mutawa, once patrolled streets to ensure compliance, though their powers were curtailed in 2016 under Prince Mohammed's reforms.
Since then, the kingdom has seen a gradual liberalization: King Salman's 2015 decree ended the mandatory black abaya, allowing colourful alternatives, and public decency laws introduced in 2019 softened requirements to "modest" attire covering elbows and ankles.
The Crown Prince's latest pronouncement aligns with Vision 2030, his ambitious plan to modernize Saudi society and diversify its oil-dependent economy.
Since rising to power in 2017, he has overseen landmark changes, including lifting the ban on women driving in 2018, weakening guardianship rules in 2019 to allow women over 21 to travel and obtain passports independently, and opening public spaces like cinemas and sports venues to mixed-gender attendance.
Netizens hailed the move as a continuation of this trajectory, with one user writing, "MBS is turning Saudi into a new era-women's freedom is the next frontier."
The announcement has sparked a flurry of reactions both domestically and internationally. In Riyadh's bustling Kingdom Centre Mall, young women expressed cautious optimism.
"It's unbelievable-I might wear what I want without my brother or father saying no," said 23-year-old student Noor Al-Ghamdi, browsing colourful abayas. Older residents, however, voiced concern.
"This is too fast-our traditions are being lost," lamented 55-year-old shopkeeper Ahmed Al-Mansouri, reflecting a generational divide.
Women's rights advocates welcomed the shift but urged clarity on its scope. "If this truly ends male control over our clothing, it's a massive win," said Hala Al-Dosari, a Saudi activist based in the U.S.
"But we need to see the fine print-will 'modesty' still be policed, and by whom?" Human Rights Watch echoed this, noting that while guardianship laws have weakened, they remain a significant barrier to full equality, requiring male permission for marriage, divorce, and certain medical procedures.
Details of enforcement remain murky. A senior official in the Ministry of Interior, speaking anonymously, indicated that a royal decree formalizing the policy could be issued within weeks, potentially amending the 2019 public decency law to explicitly affirm women's autonomy over attire.
The official hinted at a public awareness campaign to ease the transition, though no timeline was confirmed.
Internationally, the announcement has drawn praise and scrutiny. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called it "a step toward inclusivity," while European lawmakers urged Saudi Arabia to extend reforms to political freedoms.
Critics, however, pointed to the kingdom's human rights record, including the 2018 arrest of activists who campaigned for the very rights now being granted.
"MBS wants credit for reforms, but where's the accountability for silencing those who fought for this?" asked Sarah Leah Whitson of Democracy for the Arab World Now.
The timing has also raised eyebrows, coming days after a Financial Times report on March 16, 2025, detailed a new Saudi unit to combat prostitution and begging-suggesting a balancing act between liberalization and conservative enforcement.
Analysts see the move as both a domestic signal of progress and a bid to polish Saudi Arabia's image ahead of hosting global events like the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
For now, the streets of Jeddah and Riyadh buzz with speculation. Fashion retailers anticipate a surge in demand for diverse styles, with one boutique owner reporting, "We're already stocking more Western cuts and brighter colours-women are ready to experiment."
Social media reflects the excitement, with hashtags like #SaudiWomenChoose trending alongside images of women in jeans, skirts, and modern abayas.
Yet, challenges loom. Rural areas, where tribal norms hold stronger sway, may resist the change, and the absence of a clear enforcement mechanism risks uneven application.
"In cities, this might work, but my village won't accept it overnight," said Fatima Al-Qahtani, a teacher from Al-Ahsa.
Prince Mohammed framed the decision as a return to a more authentic Saudi identity. "Before 1979, we were a moderate society-women worked, dressed as they chose, within reason," he said, referencing a pre-extremist era he has often cited as inspiration. "This is about reclaiming that, not copying the West."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.