Ivanka Trump
Ivanka TrumpReuters

President Donald Trump’s daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump praised a decision by the Saudi government Tuesday to end its ban on female drivers.

Saudi Arabia, which had been the last country in the world to bar women from getting behind the wheel, announced that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had signed an order ending the ban.

While the decree is effective immediately, ending law enforcement efforts against female drivers, the full rollout of the new regime permitting women to become licensed drivers will not be implemented until June 24th, 2018.

In response to the announcement, Ivanka Trump praised the decision via Twitter, calling it a “step in the right direction”.

“Today was a historic day for women in Saudi Arabia as a decree was announced to lift the ban on women drivers. This important step in the right direction!”

The move is part of a package of reforms initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at adapting to a post-oil era and improving its battered global reputation due to its harsh human rights record.

"The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licenses for men and women alike," the Saudi Press Agency said in its report on the new decision.