The faces who made history on Saudi roads this week

Fatima Batook
Updated 27 June 2018
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The faces who made history on Saudi roads this week

  • The change reflects the shift in Saudi lifestyles mirrored by the kingdom's shrinking ability to rely solely on its vast oil exports for wealth
  • The overwhelming majority of job seekers in Saudi Arabia are women

JEDDAH: While not an event in itself, the lifting on Sunday of the ban on women driving in the Kingdom has unfolded this week like a celebration of the Saudi sisterhood.

Billboards and bumper stickers welcomed them to the road, police officers gave them flowers, car companies fought for their attention through promotions.
After driving an F1 racing car in France on June 24, Aseel Al-Hamad returned home to drive a Jaguar F-Type. “I was so privileged to drive finally in my home country,” she said.
“It’s our moment,” said businesswoman Hind Al-Zahid as she drove for the first time in Alkhobar. “We will make history…Saudi Arabia will be seen as a modern country that supports women’s rights.”
Journalists from around the world came to the Kingdom to document it all. And of course, many moments were captured and shared on social media, with drivers and their passengers marking their first drives, cars and destinations.

 

 


Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

Updated 11 January 2026
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Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

  • It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content

TAIF: A special section highlighting key Saudi literary figures forms part of the Writers and Readers Festival in Taif.

The area explores the lives of distinguished writers, poets, and authors who have shaped the Kingdom’s creative landscape, influencing literature, journalism, theater and intellectual thought.

It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the festival runs until Jan. 15 and features 42 prominent publishing houses from Saudi Arabia and overseas, offering visitors the chance to explore the latest works in literature, philosophy and general knowledge.

Meanwhile, the festival’s interactive murals section engages visitors with openwork art panels, allowing them to contribute to the city’s features and identity.

The murals depict Taif’s natural and historical landmarks, including Al-Hada Mountain, the Taif rose gardens, and traditional Hijazi palaces. Others are inspired by Souq Okaz, a historic literary and commercial center linked to the region’s poetic heritage.

Designed by a visual artist, they blend folk-inspired elements with imaginative expression, creating a collaborative experience that celebrates the city’s beauty and brings art closer to the public.