A Saudi woman won a seat on Mecca's municipal council in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia's first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates, the country's election commission announced Sunday.

Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, a region in the holy city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.