Kuwait City: Kuwait is set to introduce within weeks taxis for women only.
The pink taxis will be driven by female drivers and will be exclusively for women customers, the woman behind the project has said.
"The ambitious new project will succeed because many women need to feel secure in their transportation. I hope to spare women the hassle they might face when a male driver takes them to their destinations," Bedoor Al Mutairi said.
Al Mutairi said the project, called Eve Taxi, follows the example of several Arab and Islamic countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Bangladesh.
"A number of European countries implemented the new style of transportation this year, such as Britain, Spain and Mexico, even though they are known for being liberal," Bedoor told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The ambitious entrepreneur needed one year and a half to plan and develop the project and to complete the official documents.
She praised the Kuwait Small Projects Development Company, a governmental body of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), for supporting her project and making it a reality.
No males will be allowed in the taxis that will operate from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and will be equipped with a GPS system. The taxi drivers are highly qualified and well acquainted with Kuwait's areas and fares will be in compliance with the regulations of the Interior Ministry, and the taxi routes will cover the governorates of Hawalli, Asma, and Farwaniyah.
The accessories and magazines inside the taxis are suited for women in line with the spirit of the project which is 100 per cent female-oriented, Bedoor said.
Zainab Al Wazzan, KIA public relations officer, said that the authority "enthusiastically supported the idea because it is suitable with the nature of Kuwaiti society."
