Britain’s The Daily Telegraph reports that the Saudi government has at last showered its blessings upon women and granted them permission to drive. The government had, in recent years, been saying that it wasn’t a legal or religious mandate that kept women from driving, but that society and custom weren’t quite ready for the change. Some women called them on it by trying to obtain drivers licenses from government offices; other got behind the wheel and just drove. All were frustrated because lower level authorities were under the impression that, in fact, it was illegal.
With government’s public acknowledgment that women do have this right, there’re still hurdles to be overcome. There is, as yet, no proper social model for women to get licenses as government insists on having separate (but equal, of course) offices for men and women. Insurance companies will have to draw up new actuarial tables to account for the differences between male and female drives (as they do in the rest of the world). But what about women with foreign drivers licenses? Will Saudi women who learned to drive in Europe or the US be able to use their licenses? What about expat women?
There are a lot of issues yet to be resolved before Saudi women make up a major proportion of drivers. That said, I wouldn’t mind owning a car dealership in Jeddah or Dammam right now!
BTW, I’m finding this report only in The Telegraph and The New York Sun which reprints it. That means this could be erroneous or, as happens often in the KSA, that while the reporter had an impeccable source, the source was a bit ahead of the gun. I’ll try to find other reports to support this one.
Saudi Ban on Women Drivers To Be Lifted
DAMIEN McELROYRIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia is to lift the ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the deeply conservative state.
Government officials have confirmed the landmark decision and plan to issue a decree by the end of the year.
The move is designed to forestall protests for greater freedom by women, which have recently included campaigners driving cars through the Islamic state in defiance of a threat of detention and loss of livelihoods.
The royal family has previously balked at granting women driving permits, claiming the step did not have full public support. The driving ban dates back to the establishment of the state in 1932, although recently the government line has weakened.
“There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognized that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up,” a government official told the Daily Telegraph. “We will make an announcement soon.”
Abdulaziz bin Salamah, the deputy information minister, said the official reform program had been dogged by debate over the issue. “In terms of women driving, we don’t have it now because of the reticence of some segments of society,” he said. “For example, my mother wouldn’t want my sister to drive. It’s something she cannot grapple with. But there is change on the way. I think the fair view is that one can be against it, but one does not have the right to prevent it.”
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09:02,
The driving ban has been in effect since 1932? That hardly seems possible. I thought this was much more recent, perhaps since the ’60s or ’70s.
09:22,
WOW, I will keep the champaign on ice until John verifies. If it is true it will be a huge change for the country. Time may be required for implementation, but the big step is taken.
Now we need to start the bets on which of the ladies that comment here gets the driver license with the lowest serial number.
I place my bet on Sparky
09:42,
Sounds like a safe bet!
I’m disappointed that my prediction that women would be given permission to drive last year was off by 12 months.
10:51,
Now all we have to wait for is a spate of articles showing how road accidents have gone up now that those irresponsible women are being allowed behind the wheel:)
11:02,
[...] Burgess of Crossroads Arabia has given me the heads-up on a bit of good news. It’s being reported that the ban in the [...]
11:13,
Olivetheoil, I was not going to mention that, but since you brought it up. Think of the possibilities here. Maneuvering a Hummer through the jungle of Saudi traffic, while trying to apply makeup under a veil and dodge the drifter that is trying to impress the young ladies with his acrobatic skills
All women in Saudi should pass that skill test as part of the licensing process.
12:34,
My license plate can read 007….(just kidding) and the Hummer “How did you know my car of choice?â€
Hummer “Like Nothing Elseâ€â€¦.Wish I could get one for free…
I just need a theme a song… How bout Snoop Dog’s feat with 50 cent song “Oh No†Nah that is too hard core but it is inspiration to kill any fear
Or “Shut up and Drive†by Rihanna.
Better yet, I will opt for no tunes in the beginning…
Perhaps I will listen to some dua and Quran. You never know..I might get back into basics
I already filled out my application for an international license …just need to mail it with the pics…It is on my list of things to do!.
Saudi in the US thanks for betting on me and thank you John for confirming it as a good bet
12:37,
Saudi Women Can Drive?
It looks like another small positive step for the oppressive Kingdom.
If overnight change is not possible, then, small steps toward progr…
13:25,
In time, Saudi women may see this step as an additional burden as well as a privilege.
That’s because it won’t be long before Saudi men realize that because women can now drive cars, they can be tasked to do all sorts of things they couldn’t do before.
In exchange, Saudi women will realize that there are all sorts of things they can task their men to do since they won’t be driving.
John, you want to be a Saudi car dealer? Me, I’d love to be writing a Saudi sitcom just now!
13:39,
Mentioned was the actuary tables. This will not be a problem, as insurance is forbidden by Saudi law for muslims. I poop you not; I lived there and drove, and was required to have insurance (it was very cheap), but Saudi muslims are not allowed to have it as this is forbidden by the Muttawa, since car insurance shows lack of acceptance of the will of Allah, as any car wreck and attendant injuries to person or property are the will of Allah.
13:51,
Solomon2:
I’d rather be tasked with doing things than be a lump of lard sitting on my rear all day!
I can physically outrun, outdo and out perform most younger Saudi girls.
Also my mother who is her 50’s can out do me too in many regards due in part to being spoilt while living here. “What no one to carry my groceries to the car…My dear…what to do?”
Laziness need not be the order of the day. Most women are tasking their drivers not their husbands. In fact, their husbands are in many cases so hands off and the most spoilt of the litter.
I get looks in the grocery store while lifting 20 pound bags of rice with one hand. LOL That is right! I can carry my own…
I won’t deny that many women wouldn’t trade in their drivers because it is a luxury, nor should they have to but the choice should be there.
P.S. Imagine after waiting months and months and spending nearly 2,000 USD of your hard earned dollars to bring a driver from a foreign country only to have him run away after two months! And there is no way to recover your costs. Quite the order of the day nowadays…
The issue of Women driving is a necessity!
13:56,
This applies to the comment on the hotel access for women as well.
As happy as I am at the amount of women who will now be able to enter the work force and fulfill their desires for doing more of that they want, I know this will be true for just a few, at least for a years. Tribal and family opprobrium are a bigger barrier than the law. But it will be good for everyone to see examples that a women staying in a hotel or driving won’t lead to the complete implosion of society.
And Sparky, when it comes to the acrobats, carry some mace in your glove compartment. Have lots of fun but stay off Tahlia street on the weekends after Isha. Either that or get a big cowcatcher for your hummer to part the swarming adolescents.
btw, not kidding about the mace, I insist my wife carry pepper spray…I work with these 20 year old boys every day.
have fun!!
13:56,
Writing a sitcom has its appeal, I must admit!
Back in 2003, there were a couple of article in the Saudi media about how women were causing accidents even when they couldn’t drive! ‘Too distracting’, ‘Giving directions too abruptly’. It’s easy money to bet that there will be extravagant claims made about how dangerous they are.
baboy: thanks for that reminder. I guess it’ll just be expat women who need insurance. Or maybe the autos themselves as they have no souls to be corrupted.
14:00,
BTW, I’m only seeing things that reference back to The Telegraph’ online.
This story could still be wrong.
14:04,
Actually, the insurance laws were completely revamped last feb (2007). Even Saudi’s are now legally required to have car insurance, or face jail time, but that has been applied unevenly as you can imagine.
They worked out some Sharia compliant version I still can’t understand. But it’s still cheap. Each car is required to have insurance, but not the drivers…they just have to have a license. But if a Saudi owns a car it needs to be insured, prperty, blood money, etc…maybe an Islamic lawyer can explain the compliance model behind that one.
You know more women own cars in Saudi than men?
14:09,
A: Maybe they own more cars because they’re smarter than the men?!
Might as well own the car, even if they have to hire a driver. Nobody really wants to be dependent on someone else (say, a husband?) for all the driving around necessary.
14:28,
Yeah, I think a lot of women give a letter authorizing the driver to act on their behalf when it comes to registration, police matters, etc.. For alot of the same issues, if the owner was a male he would have to personally appear…and wait hours to then hear “Bukra Inshallah…”
16:05,
That is indeed a good news.
17:50,
Thank you for your advice A.
Have you seen Martin Lawrence in Big Mama’s House 1? Remember the part where the police officer was training the older ladies in self defense and asked Big Mama what if you are walking down the street and someone says, “Hey Mama..why don’t you show me what you made of?†He asked Big Mama, “What you gonna say then?” She said, “How’s about I show you and stick my nine up your _ss?†LOL No matter how many times I see that part I still crack up on the floor…
Seriously though, yes I would carry some sort of peppered spray or stun gun….
P.S. Despite my relatively recent potty mouth in posts…I have the capacity to be an extremely proper person and deceptively sweet!
I do intend on returning to that decency sometime very soon. No sweetness should not be termed deceptively.. it is genuine when people deserve it! It is just I can swing on the sprectrum pretty quickly.
00:57,
Carol at American_Bedu writes in an e-mail:
Yes; I wrote how I was skeptical and basically do not believe the story. It also contained erroneous or “sensationalism” type comments that added to why I was wary. How can a reporter who is based in Riyadh say that unaccompanied women must shop behind a curtain….or that if women are allowed to drive they will need to shed their abayas?! Take a look at Bahrain, Kuwait just to name a few of the countries which have women driving in abaya and niquab. And how is the abaya different from the men driving in their thobes and with their smaughs?
She’s having trouble posting comments here, so while I’m figuring out what’s causing that, I’ll post what she sends in e-mail.
10:10,
I just wonder if it is really going to happen, I mean if it is going to be humanly possible to actually get a licence, or if there are going to be so many difficulties put in the way as to make it practically impossible still.
In holland I get remarks after parking: Oh, gosh, that’s pretty good parking for a woman! The urban myth that women can’t drive is global.
Statistically women-drivers cause considerably fewer accidents than men. Therefore some insurances overhere offer cheaper rates for women! Eat your hart out boys!
04:52,
I agree that the law may change to placate foreign pressure. But the govt is well aware that their ability to limit the enforcement of social norms is almost non-existent.
Why would a woman drive if she then can’t get married? Sounds extreme but perhaps more common in those families that don’t allow their members to associate with westerners…more than we may think.
Any Saudi’s please comment on this question…is it valid? I’m looking from the outside guessing on what goes on behind those high walls around all the houses…
05:53,
A perhaps a better question that I have heard is: “Why be a wife when I can be a mistress?â€
So I don’t think driving will deter a large portion of woman from driving…even if it means she can’t get married but I think that is fuzzy logic.
Drink, Drive You Die—O.K. logic
Drink, Drive No Guy—Fuzzy logic
10:29,
I have read a local newspaper telling about an increase of salary for nurses and medical technicians, 50-80% of their current salaries. How about those are non-medical employees? Isn’t that it would be very unfair for the non-medical employees wherein all of us are working in the same company? And all of us are doing our job? We have different categories, yes I know. That is why they have higher salary than us. BUt when it comes to increase of salary, it should be for all of us!
What do you think? I hope someone could help us, especially, expatriates. Whenever I convert my salary from SAR to our country’s monetary value, it goes 20% down from my salary when I started here. Surely, because the exchange rate is getting low. Well, our salary is not fixed. It is based on the exchange rate, unless we will spend them all here. But whatif we send more from it to our family in our main land?
I guess, it would be a JUST and fair enough action for the employer to increase all of us.
Thank you
18:02,
It sounds like women being able to drive would give them more freedom but consdier that they must have a male guardian with them when they go out in public. How would that help their situation very much? A women would be able to drive her sick mate to the doctor or hospital or help with driving on a long trip but if she has to have the male with her anyway it doesn’t give her much more freedom or help with dividing up the family’s running around errands, such as dropping kids at their school, events etc.
I am wondering however if this would help the expat woman a lot. Is she under the same strictures of needing a male guardain with her? Expat women could go our alone or together to manage their business. They would already have licences. Would they be honored however and could they get insurance?
Comments please.
21:41,
In remaking Saudi society, there are many, interlocking elements that needs to be changed. What changes first will have an effect on what follows, of course.
The fact is that Saudi women are not prohibited by women, but by culture, from going out alone. There is not ‘real’ argument against their driving. What is preferable, for cultural reasons, may not be attainable because of reality.
Saudi conservatives fear that women, left to their own devices, will create mischief and create discord in families. That idea is both demeaning and retrogressive. Women, as much as men, can be and are equally responsible for their conduct.
03:00,
K. Ternes the media likes to report that a woman cannot go out without a male escort that is false if not a blatant lie.
Islamically she is supposed to have her husband’s permission or no objection in order to go out. If her male relative is normal then she has no problems and most likely comes and goes as she likes. The male escort is a requirement only if she is going to travel a certain (Long) distance. However, this rule can be broken, and it is not considered a major sin either.
00:10,
Just to get it in the record, Arab News‘ ‘Islam’ page on Jan. 30, 2008, ran a question/answer on insurance and whether it was Islamically proper:
02:11,
I always held the opinion that you can find away to justify many things with the right interpretation and changing a few variables to fit a text definition. This includes outrageous ones. For example some scholars will justify marriage of Mut3ah, which is a marriage with intent to divorce after a short period of time. That can be only 1 day. Which is equivalent to legal adultery.
The other example is justifying paying interest by restructuring loans under Islamic banking system. We just call it something different and make it work under religious context.
So positive things like insurance can be justified with few twists if there is a well. Can you say Limpo…
09:48,
I can say Limpo, but I don’t know what it means?
Expand, please…
10:55,
Typo on my part. “Limbo” the dance where you lower the bar and try to get under it without touching the floor vs “Lipmo”. It seems the way some of the sharia laws get interpreted sounds like a circus act. Bad joke on my part
11:02,
Not at all a bad joke! Just not enough caffeine in my system to get it…
11:30,
Expat and Saudi women go out alone all the time here in Jeddah. I mean, they may need a driver to get somewhere, but then you can see them walking alone in malls, supermarkets, etc. By the way, expats, in general, are viewed as loose women here, even when fully covered. Just comes with the territory.
16:25,
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