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A link from Are there any man-only places in the world? called No Women Allowed by Fox News repeats a claim I've often heard:

Women need a man, or government permission, to do just about anything – Saudi Arabian women aren’t even allowed to drive.

By contrast, Wikipedia claims the situation is not as clear cut as that. And I'd be more inclined to trust Wikipedia than Fox News!

What is the situation of women drivers in Saudi Arabia? Is it legal? Is it illegal, but tolerated? Also, is it only Saudi Arabian subjects (or those that the government regard as Saudi Arabian subjects) that driving restrictions apply to, or does it apply to foreign visitors who aren't Saudi Arabian subjects?

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Golden Cuy
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3 Answers3

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No, driving for women in Saudi Arabia is not allowed regardless of the nationality.

What bothers me is, there is no clear rule in Saudi regarding driving for women, it is just not allowed! someone came up with this idea years ago and this idea still rules! that's why the police gets confused when they have a case about this, they do not know what to do! anyway things are heading to the right direction and hopefully soon this non-sense will stop and everyone can drive.

FYI, women who live in small villages in the desert do drive!

UPDATE (26/09/2017)

Women will be allowed to drive effective June 2018.

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Nean Der Thal
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Women who live in compounds can usually drive on the compound, Aramco.

Women can also drive offroad so long as no one official is about. But if you are caught the police will take you in.

I'm not sure what the punishment is, one of my friends (A Saudi) was detained until her father came to pick her up and she was made to sign a statement that she would not drive again.

Omar Kooheji
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Apparently there's no actual law against women driving in Saudi Arabia. But it's forbidden. Two years ago, Manal al-Sharif decided to encourage women to drive by doing so -- and filming herself for YouTube.

Hear her story of what happened next in Manal al-Sharif: A Saudi woman who dared to drive.

Simon
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