Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal has shared a video of his daughter driving as women celebrate the lifting of a ban allowing them to drive for the first time.

The billionaire prince, who is one of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's nephews, set up a foundation which is described on its website as being dedicated to supporting women's empowerment among other things.

"Finally, first ride with my daughter @Reem_Alwaleed while she's driving me and my grand daughters in Riyadh," he tweeted after the ban was lifted.

There was a real sense of excitement in the air at the stroke of midnight with women legally able to get behind the wheel - campaigners for women drivers have been jailed over the years for breaking the law in protest.

واخيراً!

الآن الساعة 12:01 من صباح يوم #عشرة_عشرة مع ابنتي ريم وهي تسوق بي وحفيداتي في #الرياض#المراه_السعوديه_تسوق



Finally,

First ride with my daughter @Reem_Alwaleed while she’s driving me and my grand daughters in Riyadh#SaudiWomenDriving pic.twitter.com/rXHPUx79fu — الوليد بن طلال (@Alwaleed_Talal) June 23, 2018

On Sunday, Rima Jawdet took us for a drive around the streets of the capital Riyadh and told us of the sense of empowerment and independence it gives her.


Now she can driver herself to work - or anywhere she wants to go.

As we drove around there were waves from some male drivers which delighted Rima.

She said: "Honestly I'm so happy about this decision.

"It's an amazing experience. I went for a drive at midnight when the ban was lifted and this morning you can see how people are very happy.

Image: 'I'm so happy', says Rima Jawdet

"They're very supportive. You can see from the streets everyone is so happy. You can feel the vibe.

"When I first got my licence most of the reaction was positive with people encouraging us to drive. Even if there are some people who aren't happy with it I believe the support that we got was a lot more."

On social media dozens of women across the country posted videos of themselves driving.

Videos and pictures have also emerged of security forces handing out roses to women drivers.

But there also poignant social media messages from prominent women's rights campaigners who called for fellow activists who were recently detained to be released.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world where women were banned from driving.

The lifting of the ban is part of a programme to modernise some aspects of Saudi society under the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

But in recent weeks at least 17 activists have been detained, accused by pro-government media of treachery.

Nine have been released.

Human rights groups say there has been an unprecedented crackdown on political dissent.

Hoda al Helaissi is one of the first female members of the Shura council, the King's advisory body on all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi women 'so excited' about driving

I asked her why campaigners for women driving had been arrested on the run up to the lifting of the ban.

She said: "I don't think there was an immediate connection between the two. There are reasons for the crackdown."