"King Abdullah's promise that women will finally be allowed to vote is a welcome move," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch in a Monday statement.

The absolute monarch on Sunday granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections.

"Starting with the next term, women will have the right to run in municipal elections and to choose candidates, according to Islamic principles," the king said in speech to the Shura Council.

In addition to participating in the only public polls in the country, women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, the king said.

The decision means that women will be able to take part in the elections scheduled in four years time.