Saudi Arabia is going to the polls in unprecedented municipal elections in which women can cast a ballot for the first time.

Women are also standing as candidates, which is another first, the BBC reported. 

A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside over 5,000 men, reported Gazeta.ru news site of Russia.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world where women were not allowed to take part in elections.

The previous local elections were held in 2005 and 2011.

But men and women will vote separately, reported RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.