Meet Haifa al-Hababi: Saudi Arabia's 1st Female Political Candidate

As the first female to register as a candidate in the history of Saudi Arabian elections, the 37-year-old architect, professor and newspaper columnist is breaking the rules. She campaigned with her face uncovered and regularly dons bright colors — rare in a country where most women favor black, neck-to-feet abayas in public.

"I'm not looking at it as a woman or a man — I'm looking at it as an equal. For me, it's an opportunity for the whole country to participate."

"Things are changing here," al-Hababi said when asked if she has faced any criticism for campaigning unveiled. 

"Women's roles have changed whereby they don't just necessarily sit at home but work and are much more involved in public life."

Credit: NBC NEWS