Saudi Arabia has approved a new law allowing adult women to travel without permission and exercise more control over family matters, a report in Arab News said.

"The Passports and Civil Affairs departments and their branches in all regions of the Kingdom have started to execute the amendments stated in the Royal Order," it said, citing another media report.

The regulatory changes stipulated that a Saudi passport should be issued to any citizen who applies for it and that any person above the age of 21 does not need permission to travel.

They also granted women, for the first time, the right to register childbirth, marriage or divorce and to be issued official family documents and be eligible to act as a guardian to children who are minors, the report said.