![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J3TRTS5PN4QMVUCE2VSTIRSMKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ccab058a490c93f5535bdf74c0ead833798dc517e130fb3a37fd7ab89345c8e&width=400&height=225)
A Saudi woman drives a forklift to transport dates at a factory in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, on September 10, 2020. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CA2HVCBB5Y5HZJ56BNHGKBZESA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba333d2781a1ecedb0696bd225639ab9328429a62ebbce064ed61ea706140ff&width=400&height=225)
Dr Samira Al Ghamdi, a psychologist, drives to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7B6M6KRWPJRRTKTIQ6NXZCKRMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=830afe16aa75ad1a9a72e746698a35d3ff3f483cad2d74e529210fa1e25462c7&width=400&height=225)
Ammal Farahat at work as a captain with ride-hailing app Careem. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IF26FEKET7QYS5I5IA6WTFIEQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d23ee842456fd9b24bb41bcb7e730a94a1e9c7438d547d0d0be9e9d92a3e9172&width=400&height=225)
Majdooleen was among the first Saudi women to drive when the three-decade ban on female motorists was lifted. She is shown refuelling her car on her way to work in Riyadh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKYZBAZMMDS73RANA6H5LGYQV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4892f9993868ce74e0007a743c829b36d99ba0aeb2f0234b0088b5c466e954c9&width=400&height=225)
Amira, who is Saudi and works for Aramco, refuels her car on her way to the office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5NOBRIFHN5DFYVKXXLAOEFXWY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc7b1f4b1181ff0d8fa3adf9af8dbf7f59e5ae536175265748dd84edeb17ae22&width=400&height=225)
Nada Edlibi holds her Saudi Arabian driving licence on the day, in 2018, when she was legally permitted to drive in the country. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LPKEXMMYZJYDNQW5KVHK5UGYP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6cc44d9ba99cd554e213f095b91158e57c54a1d18a8b8e68fa823d3d32834cf9&width=400&height=225)
Saudi Arabian comedienne Amy Roko, as featured in fashion book ‘Under the Abaya’. Lina Mo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5JALWVDD24URZY32G2UYCIMFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a144af9eeeccdb8b230ac6c3c7c5c0123e89a7e1164be288b9362fe83589625f&width=400&height=225)
An actress, presenter and social media influencer, Khairiah Abulaban is passionate about acting and having a positive effect on women in her region. Ghaly Wedinly
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2QX6JWCHECJF5522UVYX3C5YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=47b3c09db32cfa620b2f03f1b59f759cd41e4d2518badbd55c77f7201e9bf8e0&width=400&height=225)
Huda Al Badri, 30, poses behind a steering wheel in Riyadh in 2018, when women were permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia for the first time in decades. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RNVNHO4TDKF7LFX2RYIRSBRDTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1ad1567462b986d111d2972ad83cc816f070a54e575b92df7327bbdea134f7c&width=400&height=225)
An advertising billboard for Japanese carmaker Nissan shows a woman about to get into a vehicle. It was photographed on the day women were legally allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTIHMN2ZNOUN2KRHWOUPPHF5YM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e416cacc846c7e1c9c2c94a9fb93219220aa1b0d5062d15b129d3a36bc1d717b&width=400&height=225)
This embroidered jacket by Saudi label Hindamme celebrates women being allowed to drive in the kingdom. It is now in the V&A museum in London. Hindamme
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J3TRTS5PN4QMVUCE2VSTIRSMKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ccab058a490c93f5535bdf74c0ead833798dc517e130fb3a37fd7ab89345c8e&width=400&height=225)
A Saudi woman drives a forklift to transport dates at a factory in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, on September 10, 2020. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CA2HVCBB5Y5HZJ56BNHGKBZESA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba333d2781a1ecedb0696bd225639ab9328429a62ebbce064ed61ea706140ff&width=400&height=225)
Dr Samira Al Ghamdi, a psychologist, drives to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7B6M6KRWPJRRTKTIQ6NXZCKRMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=830afe16aa75ad1a9a72e746698a35d3ff3f483cad2d74e529210fa1e25462c7&width=400&height=225)
Ammal Farahat at work as a captain with ride-hailing app Careem. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IF26FEKET7QYS5I5IA6WTFIEQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d23ee842456fd9b24bb41bcb7e730a94a1e9c7438d547d0d0be9e9d92a3e9172&width=400&height=225)
Majdooleen was among the first Saudi women to drive when the three-decade ban on female motorists was lifted. She is shown refuelling her car on her way to work in Riyadh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKYZBAZMMDS73RANA6H5LGYQV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4892f9993868ce74e0007a743c829b36d99ba0aeb2f0234b0088b5c466e954c9&width=400&height=225)
Amira, who is Saudi and works for Aramco, refuels her car on her way to the office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5NOBRIFHN5DFYVKXXLAOEFXWY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc7b1f4b1181ff0d8fa3adf9af8dbf7f59e5ae536175265748dd84edeb17ae22&width=400&height=225)
Nada Edlibi holds her Saudi Arabian driving licence on the day, in 2018, when she was legally permitted to drive in the country. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LPKEXMMYZJYDNQW5KVHK5UGYP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6cc44d9ba99cd554e213f095b91158e57c54a1d18a8b8e68fa823d3d32834cf9&width=400&height=225)
Saudi Arabian comedienne Amy Roko, as featured in fashion book ‘Under the Abaya’. Lina Mo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5JALWVDD24URZY32G2UYCIMFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a144af9eeeccdb8b230ac6c3c7c5c0123e89a7e1164be288b9362fe83589625f&width=400&height=225)
An actress, presenter and social media influencer, Khairiah Abulaban is passionate about acting and having a positive effect on women in her region. Ghaly Wedinly
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2QX6JWCHECJF5522UVYX3C5YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=47b3c09db32cfa620b2f03f1b59f759cd41e4d2518badbd55c77f7201e9bf8e0&width=400&height=225)
Huda Al Badri, 30, poses behind a steering wheel in Riyadh in 2018, when women were permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia for the first time in decades. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RNVNHO4TDKF7LFX2RYIRSBRDTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1ad1567462b986d111d2972ad83cc816f070a54e575b92df7327bbdea134f7c&width=400&height=225)
An advertising billboard for Japanese carmaker Nissan shows a woman about to get into a vehicle. It was photographed on the day women were legally allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTIHMN2ZNOUN2KRHWOUPPHF5YM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e416cacc846c7e1c9c2c94a9fb93219220aa1b0d5062d15b129d3a36bc1d717b&width=400&height=225)
This embroidered jacket by Saudi label Hindamme celebrates women being allowed to drive in the kingdom. It is now in the V&A museum in London. Hindamme
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J3TRTS5PN4QMVUCE2VSTIRSMKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ccab058a490c93f5535bdf74c0ead833798dc517e130fb3a37fd7ab89345c8e&width=400&height=225)
A Saudi woman drives a forklift to transport dates at a factory in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, on September 10, 2020. Reuters
Driving ambition: Saudi women reflect on three years at the wheel
Female motorists tell ‘The National’ the law change allowing them to drive has let them pursue their dreams
Mariam Nihal
24 June, 2021
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