Saudi women exercised their new legal right to drive across the Kingdom for the first time in decades this weekend, with many taking to social media to document their experience.
The new law allowing women to drive took effect on June 24th, with some newly licensed women drivers in the kingdom doing so right at 12:01am. Social media outlets were abuzz this weekend with several dedicated hashtags and first-person viewpoints, with many expressing what it meant for them.
Saudi women taking the wheel legally is a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s march toward a more open and vibrant society.
The announcement of the decision by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came in September 2017, and after the first licenses were issued earlier this month, was implemented this weekend to much fanfare across Saudi Arabia. The law comes into effect a little more than one year after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s promotion to his current position and heir to the throne.
The economic impact of the decision will be significantly positive for Saudi Arabia’s economy, to the tune of $90 billion or more. Business and technology executives, U.S. government officials and opinion leaders across the world have expressed their excitement in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic and social reform plans.
For many Saudi women and expat women living in the Kingdom, the new ability to drive themselves, rather than rely on the expensive services of a driver or ride-sharing apps, will make a real economic impact on their every day lives.
