( CNN ) -- Saudi Arabia will let its female athletes compete in the Olympics for the first time , its embassy in London said . Until now , Saudi Arabia was one of three countries that did not allow women to participate in the games . The other two -- Qatar and Brunei -- also reversed course this year and said they will send female athletes to the London games , which begin July 27 . `` The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to reaffirm its support for the sublime meanings reflected by Olympic Games and the cherished values of excellence , friendship and respect that they represent , '' the Saudi Embassy in London said in a statement announcing the decision . The International Olympic Committee had been pressing Saudi Arabia to allow women to compete and act as officials , and said in March that talks were going well . `` IOC is confident that Saudi Arabia is working to include women athletes and officials at the Olympic Games in London in accordance with the International Federations ' rules , '' the committee said March 19 . Palestinian female Olympian : 'Miracles do happen ' The decision is a rare concession for a kingdom where women are banned from driving . They also can not vote or hold public office , though that will change in 2015 . Women in Saudi Arabia also can not marry , leave the country , go to school or open bank accounts without permission from a male guardian , who usually is the father or husband . Much of public life is segregated by gender . When it came to sports , female athletes were barred from the Olympic Games because they would be participating in front of a mixed-gender crowd . The Saudi Embassy did not say what prompted the kingdom to change its mind . Officials in Saudi Arabia could not immediately be reached for comment . Can Saudi women be competitive at Olympics ? The embassy statement added that women who qualify for the Games will be allowed to participate , raising questions how many female athletes will be ready at such short notice . Dalma Rushdi Malhas , who became the first Saudi woman to compete in the Youth Olympics , praised the decision , calling it `` a dream come true . '' `` This just opens so many doors for women , '' Malhas , an equestrian , told CNN International . Malhas said she wo n't be competing in London games this year because her horse suffered a minor injury , but did n't rule out future competitions . `` I look forward to giving my best and I 'm determined to keep on trying for the next Games , hopefully , '' she said . Earlier this year , Human Rights Watch issued a report in which it said the Saudi government 's policy of banning women 's participation in national competitive sports reflects the `` predominant conservative view that opening sports to women and girls will lead to immorality : 'steps of the devil , ' as one prominent religious scholar put it . '' In 2009 and 2010 , the country closed private gyms for women , and its schools ' curriculum does not include physical education classes for women , the rights group said . And while the Saudi National Olympic Committee selects athletes to represent it in competition , the committee does not have a women 's section . Saudi Arabia 's 153 official sports club are also closed to women , Human Rights Watch said . The only exception is the female basketball section of Jeddah United , a private sports company that is not among the official sports clubs , the group said . For its part , Qatar will send three women to London this year : a shooter , a swimmer and a runner . Brunei will send a woman who will compete in hurdling .
One Saudi athlete praises the decision as `` a dream come true '' Saudi Arabian schools do n't have physical ed classes for girls . Qatar and Brunei will also send women for the first time . The decision is a rare concession for a kingdom where women can not drive or vote .