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WORLD NEWS Saturday 23 June 2018

Car dealers gear up for Saudi women to hit the roads

AYA BATRAWY it will be like, but I will apply
MALAK HARB anyways," she said. "Cur-
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) rently, I have a driver. After
— Cradling her four-month- a year I may not need him
old daughter, Nour Obeid if I've had enough practice
scans the car showroom and I'm comfortable."
and heads to the mid-sized Uzma Chohan, 38, has nev-
SUVs. er driven and relies on a
In the past, a woman look- driver or her husband to go
ing to buy a car in Saudi places. She prefers to run
Arabia would focus on the errands with her husband,
features in the back, but which means waiting until
Obeid is checking out the he's back from work in the
driver's seat, picturing her- evening or until the week-
self doing grocery store end.
runs or school drop-offs. The couple from Pakistan,
This Sunday, the kingdom who have two boys, has
will lift the world's only ban lived in Saudi Arabia for the
on women driving, a mile- past 17 years. They're look-
stone for women who have ing at larger SUVs for the
had to rely on drivers, male family, but she won't be
relatives, taxis and ride- driving just yet.
hailing services to get to In this June 21, 2018 photo, car saleswoman Maram Al-Hazer poses for a photograph inside a "In the beginning years, like
work, go shopping and get Lincoln Continental at the Al-Jazirah Ford showroom in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. to two and three, I'm a little
around. Associated Press scared about the people.
The move could help boost Some naughty guys, you
the Saudi economy by en- duction of a value-added jority of women in Saudi have someone to drive for know," she said, giggling
suring stronger female par- tax. Arabia still don't have li- them." shyly. "But after two years,
ticipation in the workforce, Still, car sales are expected censes. Many haven't Though women don't need after one year, it becomes
meaning increased house- to increase between six had a chance to take the a male relative's approval normal, inshallah (God will-
hold incomes. and 10 percent once wom- gender-segregated driving to get a driver's license or ing)."
Car companies also see en start driving, the chair- courses that were first of- buy a car, the moral and Meanwhile, Obeid, who al-
opportunity in this country man of the national com- fered to women only a few even financial support of a ready has a driver's license
of 20 million people, half of mittee for cars at the Coun- months ago. There's also a husband or father is key in from Jordan, plans to ob-
them female. Ahead of the cil of Saudi Chambers told waitlist of several months this male-dominated soci- tain a Saudi license when
ban being lifted, they've the daily Saudi Gazette. for a course at Princess ety, where men have final she's back from traveling
put Saudi saleswomen on The government recently Nora University in Riyadh. say over a woman's ability abroad this summer.
showroom floors and tar- began allowing women to And the classes can be to marry, travel abroad or "Me personally, it's what the
geted potential new drivers sell cars as well. Sales jobs costly, running several hun- obtain a passport. car looks like that's impor-
with advertising and social had previously been re- dred dollars. Nourah Almehaize started tant to me. Then I ask my
media marketing. Earlier served for men in the high- Others already own cars selling cars for the first time husband about the specs
this year, Ford sponsored a ly conservative country, driven by chauffeurs and two months ago, but had so he takes a look at it to
driving experience specifi- where unrelated men and are in no rush to drive them- already worked for six years see what it's like and if it's
cally for women in the city women cannot freely mix. selves. in a call center handling durable," she said.
of Jiddah. Earlier this month, Saudi "We were princesses ... We queries about vehicles. Her husband, Mustafa Rad-
Saudi Arabia is the largest Arabia issued its first driver's were in a good place. Now She's eager to learn how to wan, is encouraging her
automobile market in the licenses to 10 women who we're going to be in a bet- drive so she can test-drive to drive and says he'd feel
Middle East, with at least already had licenses from ter place," said Maram the Ford Explorer and Edge safer knowing that she and
405,000 cars expected to other countries. Since then, Al-Hazer, a manager at she's been selling to cus- their two kids don't need to
be sold this year. That's dozens more have been several car showrooms, in- tomers, but her husband is rely on ride-hailing services.
down significantly from a licensed. None can drive cluding Ford, who has two telling her to wait. He's optimistic and hope-
few years ago, and the until the ban is officially lift- family drivers. "To be hon- "He is telling me not to (drive ful that Saudi men will be
cost of buying a new car ed. est everyone wants to relax right away), to postpone it courteous to female drivers
has gone up with the intro- The overwhelming ma- and sit in the backseat and for a year until we see what on the road.q