the number of the committees was expanded. , the assembly consists of thirteen committees: Islamic, Judicial Affairs Social, Family, and Youth Affairs Committee Economic Affairs and Energy Committee Security Affairs Committee Educational and Scientific Research Affairs Committee Cultural and Informational Affairs Committee Foreign Affairs Committee Health and Environmental Affairs Committee Financial Affairs Committee Transportation, Communications, Information Technology Committee Water and Public Facilities and Services Committee Administration, Human Resources and Petitions Committee Human Rights and Petitions. Women members Women were first allowed to join the council in 2013. As of October 2017, women make up 20% of the Assembly's total number, slightly more than the 115th United States Congress (19.3%), highlighting the improvement in female status in Saudi Arabia. Among these are Sara bint Faisal Al Saud and Moudi bint Khalid Al Saud, both members of the Saudi royal family. As of December 2016, the following women were members of the council: Khawla Sami Alkuraya Ahlam Mohammed al-Hakmi (academic scholar, dean at Jazan University) Asma Saleh al-Zahrani (academic scholar) Iqbal zain al-Abedin Darandri (statistics and research) Amal Salama al-Shaman Jawaher Dhafer al-Anizi Jawhara Nasser al-Yami Hamda Maqbool al-Joufi Hanan Abdulrahman al-Ahmadi (Associate professor of health administration at the Institute of Public Administration); Assistant Speaker since October 2020 Raedah Abdullah Abunayan Zainab Abu Taleb Samia Abdullah Bakhari (academic and religious scholar) Sultanah Abdulmusleh al-Bidwi (educationalist) Alia Aldahlawi (researcher in microbiology) Fatimah al-Shehri Fardous Saud al-Saleh (doctorate in nuclear physics) Fawzia Aba al-Khail (Fawziyya Abu Khalid?) Kawthar al-Arbash (writer and journalist) Latifa Ahmad al-Buainain Latifah Ashaalan (Associate professor of psychology at Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University) Lina K. Almaeena (member of the Kingdom Young Business Women Council) Mona Almushait (Associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology at King Khalid University) Mastourah Obaid Al-Shammari Nihad Al-Jishi Nora Abdulrahman Al-Yousif Nora Faraj al-Musaed (sociology professor at King Abdulaziz University) Nora Al-Shaaban Nora Mohammed al-Merri (researcher on Arabic literature) Huda Abdurahman Al-Halisi Mody AlKhalaf (diplomat) See also Saad Albazei Unicameral legislature Ibrahim Al-Buleihi Politics of Saudi Arabia List of legislatures by country Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hugail References External links IPU report on the Saudi Shura 1926 establishments in Saudi Arabia Politics of Saudi Arabia