Saudi women hit the road as driving ban is lifted

Saudi Arabia’s new female drivers took to the streets across the Kingdom as the ban on women driving ended officially, according to a statement by the Center for International Communication.

As the clock ticked past midnight on Saturday, scores of women drivers, armed with their new Saudi driving licenses, drove along the busy Tahlia thoroughfare and other streets in Riyadh.

The scenes were repeated on the streets of the Red Sea port city of Jeddah and other cities across the Kingdom.

“It is a mix of emotions really. I am very excited and thrilled that this day had finally come. It is truly a dream come true. I am thrilled to be finally driving in the streets of my home country,” said Salma Rashed AlSunaid, who was among the first batch of women to receive a Saudi driving license in Riyadh.

“Over 30 years ago, my grandfather had a published news article interview stating his full support for women driving in Saudi Arabia. He would have been happy that this day is finally here, may he rest in peace.”

“This is a very important day and moment for every woman in Saudi Arabia. I am super happy, overjoyed, and excited to start hitting the road in my city and in my country for the first time,” said Tahani Aldosemani, assistant professor and undersecretary of the Deanship of the Technology Department at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University in Al-Kharj, about 77 kilometres south of Riyadh.

Aldosemani was also among the first group of women to receive their Saudi driving licenses on June 4, exchanging her US-issued driving licence for a Saudi one.

“I have all the feelings of empowerment and independence being finally behind the wheel and driving my car by myself,” she added.

Hours earlier, Areej Al Gurg tweeted: “Buying a car for the first time will no longer be a coming of age moment for men only in Saudi Arabia. Only a few hours away, and for the first time in its history, women will be able to drive themselves legally in Saudi Arabia at exactly midnight tonight. #SaudiWomenDriving”

Many Saudi men also took to social media to voice their support to women driving.

“Allowing [women] to drive is a historical moment and this will enhance the woman’s productivity in all fields. We stand with them and support them as long as we can,” Sultan Shammriy wrote on Twitter.

Women across Saudi Arabia started obtaining driving licenses over the past few weeks in preparation for June 24, the designated date for women to take the wheel in the Kingdom for the first time in a generation.

Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year ban on women driving in December last year, a decision welcomed across the world. The move is in line with wider reforms under the Vision 2030 initiative, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Lifting the driving ban will benefit Saudi families, especially from the lower income segment, by ending their reliance on drivers hired by the family, officials said.

Over the weekend, a number of community-oriented events in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Tabuk took place as part of several events being held in the lead-up to women being allowed to drive from today, the Kingdom’s information ministry said.