An historic day for Saudi Arabia: Women can now drive

27 Sep 2017

Saudi

KSA

Women

Driving

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced last night that it would allow women to drive, ending a longstanding policy that has become a global symbol of the oppression of women in the ultraconservative kingdom.

This big decision is set to take place in June 2018, was announced in a royal decree read live on state television and in a simultaneous media event in Washington. The decision highlights the damage that the ban on women driving has done to the kingdom’s international reputation and its hopes for a public relations benefit from the reform.

Saudi leaders also hope the new policy will help the economy by increasing women’s participation in the workplace. Many working Saudi women spend much of their salaries on drivers or must be driven to work by male relatives.

Within minutes of the Royal Decree allowing Saudi women to drive the car, the arabic hashtag #الملك_ينتصر_لقيادة_المرأة became the busiest hashtag on "Twitter" in Saudi Arabia, where many of the “tweeters” expressed their welcome and happiness with the long-awaited decision, and of course the hashtag was not free from people making fun of how roads in Saudi will look like after this sudden decision.

Most Viewed

Toyota GRMN Corolla Revealed: The Most Extreme GR Corolla Yet

Toyota has unveiled the GRMN Corolla, a lighter, sharper, and more track-focused version of its celebrated hot hatch.

03 Jun 2026

5 Reasons Not to Fill Your Fuel Tank to the Top

Filling your fuel tank past the first click may seem harmless, but it can lead to costly problems.

03 Jun 2026

Qatar Ministry Issues Summer Vehicle Fire Prevention Guidelines

Qatar's Ministry of Interior has issued a summer safety advisory urging motorists to take precautions to reduce the risk of vehicle fires during periods of extreme heat.

02 Jun 2026

Advice

View All

Perfect car for you in Qatar

Buying a car in Qatar is probably the most demanding decision to make. Choosing the perfect car for you in Qatar, either new or used, is not as difficult as you might imagine, but it will take some time to make your selection. A wide variety of cars can be found in Qatar, from tiny hatchbacks to massive SUVs, from older models to newly released, top-of-the-line automobiles. Some individuals may prefer the illusion of safety that a slightly larger 4x4 provides, as well as the days of dune bashing and desert driving that such a car allows. Others prefer easy-to-navigate smaller cars. No matter your preference though, options are aplenty, and what’s more, petrol is cheap...

08 Mar 2017

How to sell a car

Selling a car might sound daunting, but with QMotor we will make it easy and enjoyable. Below is all the information you need to sell your car with QMotor. Setting up the price: Pricing your car correctly can mean you get a quick sale, so it’s worth taking the time to think the price through. Compare your car with similar models for sale privately on QMotor Consider your car’s mileage, age, condition and features for a more accurate price Factor in room for the buyer to haggle Placing the advert: You can either give us a call on 444 34034 and leave the rest to us, or you can do it yourself!!

06 Mar 2017

View All