Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud's decree allowing women to get driver's licenses is a bold, if long overdue, step to reverse the kingdom's economic stagnation and answer increasing international criticism. The king and his sons also need to rethink his Yemen strategy, which is making the economy and foreign policy tilt in the wrong direction.
Saudi women bravely began to demand the right to drive 27 years ago, but the royal family and the clerical establishment resisted forcefully. Now the only nation in the world to discriminate against female drivers is changing. Many important details are yet to be worked out. The king scheduled implementation for June 2018, but deadlines for female empowerment in the kingdom have a long history of slipping. The all-male police force will need extensive training to prepare for engaging women drivers on the road. The role of male guardians will need to be clarified: Must a woman receive permission to travel alone or to a specific destination? Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Khaled bin Salman said women will not need the guardian's approval to request a license, which is a positive step.
The ban on female drivers is only the most visible gender discrimination ordinance in the kingdom. There are more than 30,000 religious edicts from the Wahhabi clergy that govern females in Saudi Arabia. The guardianship system is well entrenched. Before the decree was announced, there were widespread arrests of conservative dissident clerics who were likely to oppose the move. There are protests against the decree but also much support for the king's decision. The road to gender equality has a long way to go, but the Saudi leadership knows the driving ban attracts the most attention — especially outside the country.
The Saudi media is promoting the change on economic grounds. According to government figures, there are 1,376,096 foreign drivers in the country to provide chauffeurs for women. The cost of the chauffeur system is estimated to have been $6.7 billion last year. Of course not all of the drivers will leave in June, but the Saudi economy should get a boost.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
