Manama: Saudi Arabia has dismissed online reports that its traffic authorities had started allowing women who had international driving licences to drive in the kingdom.
According to the reports, traffic offices set up across the country were now open to exchange the international licences of foreign women. The women can use their international licence for up to one year from the day they entered the kingdom, the report claimed.
However, the director general of traffic Mohammad Al Basami said the reports lacked credibility.
“Women who obtained driving licences abroad ... will only be allowed to drive after all the related arrangements are in place,” he said.
Saudi Arabia announced women would be allowed to drive on June 24, and there would be no exception.
In September, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz said women would be allowed to have Saudi driving licence for the first time in the country’s history.
The grace period was meant to allow time for the logistics, including setting up driving schools for women.
“Women who do not have driving licences have started taking lessons in the designated schools,” Al Basami said.
The right to drive will be a major breakthrough for the empowerment of Saudi women as part of an ambitious reform agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
