In September 2017, a royal decree announced the end of a decades-long ban on women driving – the only one of its kind in the world. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 32, is seen as the force behind the lifting of the ban, part of a series of reforms being pushed by the powerful royal in the conservative kingdom. The decision to allow women to drive could give them the much-needed mobility to join the workforce.
Saudi driving decree
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi Arabia says to lift female driving ban on June 24
Senior official says all the requirements for women in the kingdom to start driving have been established
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
MBS, the reformist prince who has shaken up Saudi Arabia
Saudi crown prince continues to impose his economic, social and religious reforms
Saudi driving decree
Twitter shrinks gap with TV to break news in Saudi Arabia
Three-quarters of Saudi women say content on social media platform is influencing their decisions on what to buy
Saudi driving decree
Mercedes achieves biggest brand improvement among women in Saudi
‘She’s Mercedes’ initiative creates dialogue between women from different industries on topics surrounding business and personal life
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi reforms ‘no more than PR blitz’, claims Amnesty
Human rights group says Gulf kingdom’s widely-lauded reforms are ‘fooling nobody’
car industry
Saudi women to transform kingdom’s automotive industry
Car sales are expected to grow 9 percent a year until 2025
Jeddah
In pictures: First women-only car exhibition in Jeddah
The showroom was opened in a shopping mall in the western Red Sea port city of Jeddah to allow women the freedom to choose their own cars before they hit the road.
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia opens first women-only car showroom
Showroom launches in Jeddah to allow women the freedom to choose their own cars ahead of lifting of driving ban
Careem
Dubai’s Careem targets 10,000 female drivers in Saudi Arabia
Ride hailing app has reportedly already received thousands of applications ahead of lifting of driving ban
female employment
Saudi driving decree: no immediate impact for female workers, says report
An Oxford Economics and ICAEW report says that wage expectations will have to be address before any substantive changes
Saudi driving decree
Over 80% of Saudi women said to apply for driving licences
Survey also shows that would-be drivers intend to reduce reliance on taxis, Uber after June 2018
Saudi driving decree
Saudi driving ban activist sets sights on male guardianship rules
Manal al-Sharif says the time for women to be silent in Saudi Arabia is over
Saudi driving decree
Saudi woman booked for driving ahead of lifting of ban
Saudi police issue warning against violations of driving ban between now and June 2018
Saudi driving decree
Battle of the sexes: Saudi men react to women driving
Saudi Arabia seeks to tackle entrenched male attitudes towards women drivers before they get behind the wheel
Saudi driving decree
Thousands of Saudi cabbies ‘face struggle’ as women get mobile
Frost & Sullivan says lifting of driving ban could see thousands of drivers losing their livelihood
Saudi driving decree
Saudi driving decree expected to unlock profits far beyond cars
Decision expected to unlock a whole world of new products and services affiliated with car sales that the Saudi female will be interested in