38 Un der s ta n di n g A r a b s in Saudi Arabia. And the Internet and expanded media communications are facilitating region-wide contacts and making both men and women open to new ideas. (10) 1 1 Wom en 's R ight to Vot e In most Arab countries women have the right to vote. Progress in this sphere is evident, and any differences among Arab countries are social, certainly not related to Islam. In Kuwait, there was a large protest dem- onstration in March 20 05, which resulted in women gaining the right to vote (it was the parliament, not the ruler, that opposed it). In Saudi Arabia, women were given the vote in September 2011, but have not yet participated in elections. In the UA E, women still do not have the right to vote, but pressure is growing. The table that follows is a summar y of the current situation.