Saudi Arabia has been rapidly addressing numerous women's rights issues in the past few months, from finally allowing women to drive, to giving them more direct control of their life decisions, and letting them enter sports stadiums for games.

And now, at least one member of the kingdom's Shoura Council is pushing for professional women's football teams.

Iqbal Dandari, a member of the Committee for Human Rights at the Shoura Council has requested the establishment of professional sports clubs for women, according to Arab News.

Saudi Shoura Council
The Saudi Shoura Council Source: Fanack Chronicle

The female Shoura Council member urged major Saudi football clubs such as Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli to set up women's teams. 

Dandari further pushed for setting aside a day specifically for women to exercise at the major sports clubs, while ensuring that modest and appropriate standards are followed.

Couching her request within the context of the recent decision to allow women to enter stadiums during games in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah, Dandari hailed the move as a "landmark" for Saudi women. She also said it would "encourage" women to participate in sporting activities, just as women do around the world.

Women are steadily gaining their rights in the kingdom

While the creation of professional women's football teams may still be just an idea put forward by Dandari, her request fits well with the recent trend in the kingdom.

Although many continue to criticize the country for being decades behind many other nations when it comes to women's rights, it's important to note that things have been changing rapidly.

Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has amended a number of laws in an effort to empower women. 

These include opening municipal elections to female candidates and making women's verbal consent to marriage mandatory. Additionally, the Saudi Shura Council announced an amendment to laws governing travel documents. If passed, said amendments would give women the right to obtain a passport without male permission.

The male guardianship system has also been seen as a hindrance to women's progress, but a royal decree from King Salman in May suggested that the patriarchal systems' days are numbered. And Saudi women have already made significant gains.

Saudi women competed at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016

When it comes to athletics, Saudi women also stole headlines at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Four female Saudi athletes attended the international games, following in the footsteps of two bold Saudi women who participated in the London 2012 games.

If Dandari's request becomes reality, perhaps a female Saudi football team will be heading to the next Olympics, or even competing in the Women's World Cup in the not-so-distant future.

Inshallah!