A Saudi Arabian woman has begun training for her motorcycle driving licence as the country moves to lift a ban on women behind the wheel.

Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem was pictured in bike leathers during lessons at the Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain on Friday, reports the Evening Standard.

The female bike rider went to her neighbouring country to train in advance motorcycle riding before the ban is lifted in June.

She is hoping to be among the first women to drive motorcycles in her country, according to Reuters.

A royal decree issued last year ordered that Saudi women be allowed to drive, ending a tradition seen by rights activists as symbolic of the kingdom's repression of women.

Images showed Ms Moalem posing in a Jeddah Chapter Saudi Arabia biker vest and learning the basics of operating a bike from trainer Rebal Mohammed.

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world to ban women from getting behind the wheel.

Neither Islamic law nor Saudi traffic law had explicitly prohibited women from driving, but they were not issued licences and were detained if they attempted to drive.

Under the new order women will still need the permission of a male relative to obtain licences.