Shares of Saudi insurance companies are trading higher on hopes that insurance volumes will rise as women begin driving on Sunday after the ban on woman driving was lifted.

SABB Takaful jumps 6 percent in early trade.

Other insurance firms including Al Rajhi Company for Cooperative Insurance 8230.SE and Trade Union Cooperative Insurance Co 8170.SE among the best performers in Saudi market.

Saudi index .TASI gains 1 percent during first hour of trading.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia and Marwa Rashad; Editing by Saeed Azhar) ((Davide.Barbuscia@thomsonreuters.com; +971522604297; Reuters Messaging: davide.barbuscia.reuters.com@reuters.net))