Saudi women create history anew by driving public taxis in Al-Ahsa

DAMMAM — Women in Saudi Arabia have added yet another feather in their cap by creating history again after taking their place behind the wheel in public taxis. The Al-Ahsa governorate in the Eastern Province witnessed Saudi women driving taxis for the first time in the Kingdom, Al-Ekhbariya Television channel reported.

Munira Al-Marra, one of the taxi drivers, chose this profession because of her passion and love to drive. “I have 30 years of experience in driving vehicles including pickup and heavy vehicles. I can drive any type of vehicle and also can do spot repair in the event of breakdown or engine failure,” she told Al-Ekhbariya.

The channel conducted a field survey of Saudi women drivers’ experiences in picking this new challenging career. They are part of a project under which there are 500 limousines that serve all segments of women society within the Kingdom and outside, especially around half a million women in Al-Ahsa governorate.

The women drivers are also picking up customers to take them to other regions and governorates around the Kingdom, particularly to Riyadh and Dammam. Their customers also include those who want to travel to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as Al-Ahsa region is close to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

It is noteworthy that on June 24, 2018, Saudi Arabia witnessed a landmark reform following the issuance of royal order to lift the ban on women driving, and this was one of the remarkable achievements made under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.