Five years ago, women in Saudi Arabia were finally allowed to drive. This event was a major turning point for Saudi Arabia and women’s rights in the country. In this article, we take a look back at what has changed since then.
The change in the law has had a positive impact on women in Saudi Arabia. It has given them more freedom and independence. It has also helped them to access jobs and education that were previously out of reach.
Since the change in the law, more and more women have been getting behind the wheel. In 2019, the number of women with driver’s licenses increased by 50%. This trend is expected to continue in the years to come.
As of 2022, an estimated 3.4 million women in Saudi Arabia will be licensed drivers, representing nearly 30% of all drivers in the country. This is up from just 2.1 million in 2019 when women first started driving in Saudi Arabia.
The increase in women drivers is having a positive impact on the economy, with businesses seeing more female customers and employees. Women are also becoming more active in politics and social issues.
There is still some way to go before gender equality is achieved in Saudi Arabia, but the progress that has been made since 2018 is significant as the ban was seen as a major step forward for women’s equality in Saudi Arabia.
Before the ban was lifted, women in Saudi Arabia had to rely on male relatives or drivers to get around. This often meant that women were unable to go to work or run errands. Women were limited by the patriarchal system
The influence of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman must be noted. His forward-thinking steps toward the future of Saudi Arabia, and the role Saudi women must take in it are at the heart of the Saudi change. MBS defied old laws, showed his faith in Saudi women, and has taken notable steps towards benefitting Saudi women, who in return are 50% of the population and can strengthen the Saudi workforce.
Thus, drastic changes have been made in the field of education. The percentage of female graduates in Saudi Arabia in 2019 was 55.8 percent. This was slightly higher than the share of male graduates. Nevertheless, there is still much to be done as Saudi women now comprise 33.6 percent of the Saudi workforce as of March 2022, according to the General Authority for Statistics. That figure is up from 17.4 percent just five years ago.30 Jul 2022.
Despite the seemingly low numbers in employment, the rise is significant. Saudi will take time to reach the equality levels expected in the West. However, it is on the right path. Saudi will need time before we witness drastic changes; changes that will happen slowly and gradually.
