A Saudi lawyer, who developed a free smartphone app to educate women in her country about their legal rights, said the app now has more than 50,000 subscribers, Al Arabiya English reported.

Nasreen Al-Issa, a corporate lawyer in Saudi Arabia, launched “Know Your Rights” in July after realising many women did not know many of their "basic rights".

"I go to places and gatherings, and I discovered that even the educated women aren't aware of their rights," Al-Issa said.

At first, the lawyer thought of publishing a book but then she decided to go electronic.

"I realised a lot of people are on their phones. It is an app era," Al-Issa said.

Most Saudi women do not know what to do when they are in trouble, she added.

"They do not know how to file for a divorce, or what happens to the custody of their children in case they separate from their spouses. What happens when a thief steals their jewellery? Or if she falls in a mall and breaks her leg?" the lawyer said.

Therefore, Al-Issa focused the app to teach women three main principles.

"It informs the women about their rights, teaches them how to be independent and how to file a lawsuit without having to hire a lawyer," she said.

Women seeking legal retribution do not have to "waste money", the lawyer added.

Al-Issa, who used to do pro bono cases on women's issues prior to the release of the app, did not want to disclose how much she spent from her own pocket on the project.

"I used to work afternoons and weekends before the app [was launched]. Now, I offer advice through the app only," she said. "I have my own icon where I give free consultation to women."