For the first time in Saudi Arabia’s history, women were allowed to participate in an election – both as voters and as candidates. The elections were held Nov. 26-29 for twelve seats on the Chamber of Commerce in Juddah, Saudi’s business capital.Running for open positions were 17 women and 54 men. The voting took place over a four-day period. The women’s elections were held on Saturday and Sunday, while the men’s elections were held on the following Monday and Tuesday.

Two women, Lama Al-Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher, made history by being the first elected women officials to the board. The results were unexpected. “I’m excited and exhausted,” Al-Sulaiman told Al-Jazeera. “I’m still in a shock. I worked hard and went for a win, but I also gave myself a leeway so as not to be disappointed if I didn’t win.”

Al-Sulaiman hopes that her win will allow her to bring to the board her knowledge as a businesswoman; she wants to allow for the future participation of women in business.

Taher attributes her success to her parents and her husband’s support, but also her own perseverance. She helps run a group of family companies whose interests range from contracting to foodstuffs.

“This means there is trust [in women],” said Taher. “Professionalism is very important … and this is my message to Saudi women: Take your work seriously, without forgetting your role as a mother and wife.”

Many election officials were unsure of the amount of support that the women who were running would receive. BBC correspondents view the elections as a sign of progress. BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy said, “The election is of great symbolic importance in a conservative country where women’s lives are restricted in many ways.”

The voter turnout and number of candidates running for this election was the largest in the chamber’s 60-year history. Five of the winners were members of the previous board, making the other seven new. The board will have a total of 18 members, the last six will be appointed by the Ministry of Commerce.

Through their campaigns, both elected women promised to support a center that supports businesswomen and to help women work from home. “Victory means we will have to work,” said Al-Sulaiman. “There’s a lot for us to learn, but I’m sure we will manage.