Two Years, Two Percent: Why Are Saudi Women Still Not Driving?

Two Years, Two Percent: Why Are Saudi Women Still Not Driving?

Women's challenges to driving remain four years post-driving ban in Saudi Arabia.

Women's challenges to driving remain four years post-driving ban in Saudi Arabia.

In June 2018, Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on women driving. Two years later only 2% of women in Saudi Arabia had been issued a driving license.

In a research collaboration between Alnahda Society, Duke University and Uber, a research team conducted a study with low-income Saudi women interested in receiving a driving license.  This study was initiated under the research engagement between Harvard’s Kennedy School’s Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia. They surveyed them and, in collaboration with Uber, carried out a Randomized Controlled Trial offering some women financial and logistical assistance in getting a driving license.  The results in the brief below identify several factors affecting women’s ability to drive. Constrained car ownership and the financial cost of obtaining a driving license were identified as key obstacles towards women driving, followed by road safety concerns.  Family and societal normative constraints remain a major concern for a small fraction (6% and 9%, respectively) of the study sample.  Read the full brief below! 

→ See full policy brief.