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Saudi Arabia lifted the law banning women from driving last year on June 24, a year on, things are still going well for the thousands of female drivers in the country
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So far in under a year, 50,000 licences have been issued to Saudi women
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Teaming up with Volkswagen, the first women’s car club has opened in the country
Saudi Arabia is about to hit an exciting and interesting milestone, a year since the driving ban on women has been lifted. In an ongoing effort to promote equality of women in the country, The Volkswagen Women’s Car Club has been formed.
Almost 50,000 women now hold a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia, given that this has happened in around a year, that’s approximately 137 different women being given a license every day. In celebration of this anniversary, Ammal Farhat has spearheaded the first women’s car club.
Deesch Papke, Managing Director, Audi Volkswagen Middle East said: “Having the opportunity to meet up with likeminded women to talk about their passion for driving, and simply their daily lives has meant that real, genuine friendships have been forged. The Volkswagen brand is all about bringing people together and car clubs like these truly are our heart beat. This particularly special club is yet another milestone in the history of women driving in Saudi Arabia, further cementing their road to empowerment.”
Farhat is a business owner, a resident of Jeddah and a single mother of two. She personally hopes the club will build friendships, bring women together and improve the equality of all women. She was one of the first women to get her hands on a driving license and goes onto explain how empowering a moment it was. She also believes the club created alongside VW will be a centre for all women to empower themselves.
“We were given the opportunity to drive a year ago and what a difference that year has made for thousands of women across Saudi Arabia. The Volkswagen Women’s Car Club unites us in a way that we never thought possible before. Now that we can get behind the wheel, we feel more empowered and have a greater sense of independence and control over our own lives,” says Farhat.
“Waking up in the morning, getting into the car and being able to go where we need to has been life changing. My son had a bad accident two days before I got my driver’s license and I felt helpless as I couldn’t drive him to the hospital. Now that’s no longer the case and I can’t put into words what a relief it is knowing that if I need to go somewhere or get something done, I can. We aim to continue growing the women’s car club and host events that will bring more of us together to share our unique experiences and to have fun. It’s an exciting time for everyone involved,” she added.
Have a look at the video below:
