10 questions answered for female drivers in Saudi Arabia

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Effat University in Jeddah collaborated with Ford Motor Company to train Saudi women to drive under a special “Driving Skills for Life" program. (Supplied photo)
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Effat University in Jeddah collaborated with Ford Motor Company to train Saudi women to drive under a special “Driving Skills for Life" program. (Supplied photo)
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Effat University in Jeddah collaborated with Ford Motor Company to train Saudi women to drive under a special “Driving Skills for Life" program. (Supplied photo)
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Effat University in Jeddah collaborated with Ford Motor Company to train Saudi women to drive under a special “Driving Skills for Life" program. (Supplied photo)
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Effat University in Jeddah collaborated with Ford Motor Company to train Saudi women to drive under a special “Driving Skills for Life" program. (Supplied photo)
Updated 23 June 2018
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10 questions answered for female drivers in Saudi Arabia

What is the driving age? And what kind of vehicles are women permitted to drive? 

The Supreme Decree stipulates that the application of the Traffic Regulations and its Executive Regulations shall apply to both women and men. The driving age is 18 for the private driving license, which applies to all types of vehicles including motorbikes. There are exceptions for those reaching 17. They will be granted a temporary permit for no more than one year. Women will be allowed to drive trucks once the necessary conditions have been met for that purpose. The driving age is 20 for public driving licenses and public works vehicles.

 

What happens if you already have an international license? 

Article 37 of the Traffic Regulations Act excludes those who have international and foreign driving licenses from the driving test as long as it is effective. It is also possible for women visiting Saudi Arabia to drive with their international and foreign-recognized driving license for one year from the date of entry or until the expiry of their permit, whichever is earlier based on Article 42.

 

Can women from abroad rent a car and drive? 

Women with international/GCC visas should be able to easily rent a car as long as their license is valid. “We accept international visas in all our branches as long as it is valid and the same goes for women,” said Hattan Madani, a customer service employee at Budget told Arab News. Note that not all car rentals provide this option: only Budget and Key for car rental. The rest insist that women must have a Saudi license.

 

How many will be registered to drive at first? 

The auto industry has estimated that there are 9 million potential new customers in the Saudi female population who will be eligible to drive. According to the London-based consulting firm Facts Global Energy, about 6 million are expected to apply for a license.

 

 

Where do you go to get your driving license and what do the tests involve?  

Those wishing to get a driver's license must take six steps and comply with certain terms and conditions:

Step 1: Register through the "Abshar" portal, fill out the application form and pay the fees incurred in issuing the license, as well as pass the driving test.

Step 2: Pass the driving test on Qyadati.com.

Step 3: Schedule an appointment for the training program after paying the program fee from the previous website.

Step 4: Attend and take the theoretical training. The theoretical training consists of workshops and lectures of eight hours, the driving simulator for half an hour.

Step 5: Prepare for a practical training period consisting of 12 hours of training in the field, 11 hours in the city and highways and one hour for training and preparation to test for the license.

Step 6: Pass the test under the supervision of traffic police.

 

Where can you go to school to learn to drive? 

Five Saudi universities have launched driving schools for women: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Tabuk University and Taif University.  

The Saudi Driving School, at Princess Nourah University, the first for women in the capital, was launched in partnership with the Emirates Driving Institute in Dubai, an established driving school in the region.

Effat University collaborated with Ford Motor Company to assist Saudi women gain the power of mobility by hosting a special “Driving Skills for Life" program.

Based on its award-winning global safe driving initiatives, DSFL has customized an introductory program which focuses on building women’s confidence behind the wheel, expanding their automotive knowledge, preparing them to take their driving lessons and instilling safe driving practices before they tackle public roads.

 

What do the the tests involve?  

According to Effat Saudi Driving School, there are several steps in teaching driving, including theoretical training, which consists of eight lectures, each of which lasts an hour, covering the following topics:

Lecture 1: Attitude and Responsibilities

Lecture 2: Traffic signs

Lecture 3: Managing Risks

Lecture 4: Driver Condition

Lecture 5: Driving Environment

Lecture 6: Rules of the Road

Lecture 7: Anticipating Hazard and Emergencies

Lecture 8: Your Vehicle

Upon the completion of the eight lectures, the basic information acquired by the trainee is tested through the theoretical test. Passing this test is a prerequisite for starting the next phase of training.

Then comes the simulator training, which is conducted using a device that simulates real car driving and consists of all the parts that make up a car interior such as the car seat, steering wheel, dashboard, power switch and safety belt. The passenger is surrounded with screens displaying a virtual reality that simulates a large number of scenarios that the driver may experience in different weather and geographic conditions. The device gives instructions to the passenger in an interactive manner and provides feedback on the driver's skill and also an explanation of the mistakes she made while driving. 

The hands-on training begins in an enclosed field (yard) with no other cars. In this yard, the trainee acquires basic driving skills such as maneuvering the car, different types of parking and other basic driving skills. 

The yard training consists of six hours of training. The trainee is then subjected to an applied test that measures the extent to which these aforementioned skills were acquired during yard training. In the event that the test was not passed, the trainee is required to go through a training hour for each skill that she did not pass before she starts the practical training on the roads. In the event of passing the yard test, the trainee begins training on actual roads. 

 

What happens if you commit a traffic offense? 

There is coordination between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to use the girls’ care centers as detention centers in the event of a violation that requires arrest or detention.

Violators will also be publicized, according to the traffic regulations.

Having non-insured cars will be considered an offence stipulated in Paragraph (11) of Table (4) with a fine ranging between 100 and 150 riyals.

 

Were women ever permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia? 

Historically, women in rural areas may have driven at one time. At institutes such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Saudi Aramco, women have been issued permits by the special zone’s driving school. 

The driving environment at KAUST is similar to that of European countries or the United States, according to Dr. Aala Abulfaraj, 37, who drives at KAUST, where she is a research scientist in molecular biology and immunology.

 

What are dealerships doing to attract female customers? 

Major players in the auto industry such as Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, General Motors and United Motors Co., which between them boast the authorized rights to sell Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeeps in the Kingdom, have ramped up their advertising and marketing campaigns. Along with establishing a call centre managed exclusively by women to handle finance options and general inquiries, Abdul Latin Jameel Motors, the Japanese group’s authorized Toyota distributor in Saudi Arabia, will be designating showroom lots run by all-female staff.


GCC holds Gulf-US Joint Ministerial Meeting to advance regional security

Updated 30 April 2024
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GCC holds Gulf-US Joint Ministerial Meeting to advance regional security

  • In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with senior Saudi leaders and hold a wider meeting with counterparts from five Arab states

RIYADH: Secretary Anthony Blinken participated in a joint US-Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting to advance coordination on regional security on Monday in Riyadh.

“There really are two paths forward for the region as a whole. One driven with division with destruction, with violence with permanent insecurity. The other, greater integration, greater security, greater peace,” Secretary Anthony Blinken said.

“ I think the region today shows that many more of us want to pursue that affirmative path, and I’m grateful to our colleagues in the GCC for working in partnership to advance in that direction,” he added.

During his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed that the meeting serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to promote greater stability in this region.

Blinken arrived in Riyadh Monday morning as a part of a 3-day visit from April 29-May 1 to meet with regional partners.

The secretary highlighted that in the upcoming days as he travels to Jordan and Palestine he will meet with humanitarian groups and the Israeli governemnt to discuss the developments in Gaza.

During his remarks Secretary Blinken highlighted the current U.S. interventions such as the increased value of aid delivered to Gaza and the building of the US maritime corridor.

“It is not enough we still need to get more aid in and around Gaza,” he explained.  

During his speech, Blinken underlines that the U.S. will continue to work with its GCC partners to “build just and lasting peace.”

“We are focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security, Iran,”

“ This is the first meeting since Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, The first direct attack from Iran to Israel with more than 300 projectiles including over 100 holistic missiles," Blinken explained.  

Blinken underlined that the attacks from Iran stress the importance of working together in integrated defense.

He highlighted that this will be the discussion topic in the upcoming US-GCC meeting in a few weeks on integrated air, militry defense and maritime security.

The other discussion topic underlined by Blinken was the “ ways to preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,”

“The Houthi attacks not only undermine security but they undermine the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the region including in Yeman, the very people they profess they want to represent, The cost of goods have gone up, and it’s harder to get things into Yemen, to the north we’re people so desperately need it,”

“This needs to stop and we are being resolute in doing everything we can to put a stop to it,” Blinken sid.

During his opening remarks, the GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.

He also underlined the need for effective international measures to end the violence in the West Bank.

He also expressed the importance of ensuring the security of relief corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the continuous escalation between Iran and Israel threatens the security and stability of the region.

The GCC Secretary General also expressed concern over the Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.

Following his visit to the Kingdom, Blinken will be meeting with counterparts in Jordan and Palestine.

As a part of his visit, the secretary will discuss various topics including the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages.

Other topics in the meetings will include humanitarian aid to Gaza, limiting the spillover of conflict and ongoing efforts to achieve regional security.

A pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel will also be one of the topics of discussion during his visit.

On the sidelines of the meeting, The Saudi Minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Secretary Blinken. The two discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the importance of a ceasefire, efforts to ensure entry of urgent humanitarian aid, and joint efforts.


Saudi crown prince receives world officials after WEF special meeting in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Updated 30 April 2024
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Saudi crown prince receives world officials after WEF special meeting in Riyadh

  • Two-day special meeting of the World Economic Forum ended on Monday

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received officials from around the world in Riyadh after a special meeting of the World Economic forum ended on Monday.

The officials included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.

The officials attended the two-day special meeting during which the crown prince called for global collaboration to help build a more resilient and integrated global economy. 

Blinken is visiting the Kingdom on his seventh trip to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which responded with a relentless offensive in Gaza that has drawn global criticism.


Saudi authorities issue severe weather warning

Updated 30 April 2024
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Saudi authorities issue severe weather warning

  • Schools, universities in some regions switch to remote learning after storms, high winds forecast

RIYADH: Saudi authorities warned residents that most parts of the Kingdom will experience severe weather until Friday.

The National Center of Meteorology on Monday forecast moderate-to-heavy rain in the Madinah, Makkah, Jeddah, Baha and Najran regions, accompanied by high winds, hail and thunder.

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense also issued severe weather warnings accompanied by safety instructions as the country braces for heavy rainfall in coming days.

The Civil Defense said that most parts of the Kingdom will experience moderate-to-torrential thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, until Friday.

Regions to be affected include Asir, Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Jazan, Qassim, Jouf, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders, Riyadh and the Eastern Province.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense has urged people to take precautions, remain indoors during stormy weather, and adhere to its instructions.

Schools in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah regions switched to online classes through the Madrasati remote-learning platform on Monday after authorities warned of storms and possible floods this week.

The King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, University of Jeddah, University of Taif, and Umm Al Qura University in Makkah were closed on Monday and postponed scheduled exams until further notice.

Taibah University in Madinah and Saudi Electronic University’s branch in Jeddah also suspended in-person classes on Monday, and switched to remote learning.

Jeddah Municipality implemented a field plan to deal with the weather conditions, and urged residents to show caution and stay away from flooded areas.

Bandar bin Saleh Al-Hadiya, director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Northern Border region, inspected dam safety in Arar ahead of the rainy situation.

Riyadh region was also hit by a heavy sandstorm accompanied by high winds on Sunday night, leaving the city skyline enveloped in dust.

On Monday, the NCM issued a red alert for dust storms in parts of the Riyadh region,  including the capital, and Al-Aflaj, Al-Sulail and Wadi Al-Dawasir governorates.


Saudi FM discusses two-state solution with French, Turkish counterparts

Updated 30 April 2024
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Saudi FM discusses two-state solution with French, Turkish counterparts

  • The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting to discuss Gaza war

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with his French and Turkish counterparts on Monday.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss developments in the Gaza war, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Talks with Hakan Fidan of Turkiye and Stephane Sejourne focused on coordinating efforts to advance the two-state solution and acknowledge the Palestinian state, SPA added.
 


Saudi Arabia, UNEP launch World Environment Day campaigns

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated the annual event. (SPA)
Updated 29 April 2024
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Saudi Arabia, UNEP launch World Environment Day campaigns

  • Faqeeha noted that on the occasion of World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent need for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and working toward sustainability

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the UN Environment Programme have announced campaigns to combat desertification, restore ecosystems, and strengthen drought resilience ahead of World Environment Day celebrations on June 5 in Riyadh.

The announcement was made at the opening of Saudi Arabia’s Environment Week on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated the annual event that aspires to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection.

Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy executive director, UNEP

During the event, Deputy Minister for Environment Osama Faqeeha emphasized the shared responsibility in addressing land degradation and combating desertification. This responsibility extends to policymakers, the private sector, and civil society organizations globally, who must work together to restore agricultural areas, rehabilitate land, and tackle desertification and drought, he said.

Faqeeha noted that on the occasion of World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent need for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and working toward sustainability.

This year, we are calling on people — from the grassroots to governments — to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival.

Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy executive director, UNEP

He highlighted the importance of uniting national and international efforts to safeguard and rehabilitate ecosystems across the globe, aiming to fulfill sustainable development objectives.

“Without action, 95 percent of land on Earth could be degraded within the next 30 years, which could spell disaster for humanity and the planet,” said Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of UNEP, launching the global campaign at a Saudi Environment Week event in Riyadh.

“We have seen how previous campaigns have catalyzed climate action across the globe. This year, we are calling on people — from the grassroots to governments — to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival,” she added.

Countries worldwide have committed to restoring 1 billion hectares of land, aiming to protect 30 percent of land and sea for nature and restoring 30 percent of the planet’s degraded ecosystems.

Supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, World Environment Day 2024 will boost climate action efforts by gathering support for ecosystem restoration.

At the opening event of the Saudi Environment Week, Al-Fadhli emphasized that achieving the goals of environmental protection and conservation of the Kingdom’s natural resources requires active engagement from governmental and private sectors, as well as individuals.

He stressed the significance of adopting eco-friendly behaviors in daily routines and applying these practices across different sectors to reach sustainable development objectives.

“The continuation of this national event annually in the Kingdom reflects our wise leadership’s dedication to environmental protection and commitment to sustainable development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” Al-Fadhli said.

“Moreover, the Kingdom’s dedication to environmental protection is evident at national, regional, and international levels. This is demonstrated by Saudi Arabia’s active participation in numerous environmental agreements and organizations, as well as its … initiatives like the Middle East Green Initiative and other significant global environmental efforts under the G20 umbrella,” he added.