Cairo: Girls, who turn 17, can get a temporary driving permit in Saudi Arabia on an equal footing with their male peers, a local newspaper reported, citing traffic authorities.
The Traffic Department said that applicants for the temporary driving permit should attach to their applications to the driving school six personal photos and undergo medical check ups, according to Okaz newspaper.
The permit is valid for one year and is replaced with a driving licence when the girl reaches 18. Validity of the driving license ranges from five to 10 years.
Conditions for getting a driving licence at the age of 18 include the necessity that the applicant has not been convicted of taking or dealing in drugs, and being free of diseases and disabilities to driving.
The applicant has also to pass the driving test as well as to pay related fees and violations. Non-Saudi applicants must have a legal residency permit (iqamat).
In 2018, the kingdom allowed women to drive for the first time in its history, ending a decades-old ban on female driving.
In another move enhancing female empowerment, Saudi authorities have allowed women to travel without a male guard’s approval and to apply for a passport, easing long-time controls on them.
