A newly licensed Saudi woman prepares to go for a drive. AFP
A newly licensed Saudi woman prepares to go for a drive. AFP

2018 - The day Saudi women could drive

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Updated 19 April 2025
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2018 - The day Saudi women could drive

2018 - The day Saudi women could drive
  • The lifting of the ban was one of several reforms that improved gender equality

JEDDAH: This story could be called a tale of two countries. When I arrived in Jeddah from the Arab News Dubai office for my first visit to Saudi Arabia, on June 20, 2018, I was not allowed to drive.

And then, four days later, along with every other woman in the Kingdom, all of a sudden we could. Much like Cinderella in the fairy tale, our pumpkins turned into carriages at the stroke of midnight on June 24.

So much has changed since then that it seems like ancient history. At the time, we thought other changes might happen, inshallah, in baby steps, but the driving law proved to be only the first of many that drove Saudi women’s independence forward into the 21st century.

In the words of my Saudi colleague Noor Nugali, now deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, it was a “mind-blowing” signal that Saudi Arabia was headed “100 miles in the right direction.”

In August 2019, the guardianship law, which required Saudi women to get a male guardian’s permission to travel, was rescinded. In December that year, gender segregation in public places came to an end. In June 2021, single, divorced or widowed women were allowed to live independently without needing the permission of their male guardians. In January 2023, Saudi women married to foreign men gained the right to pass on Saudi citizenship to their children. And in 2024, the World Bank reported that women made up 34.5 percent of the Kingdom’s workforce, surpassing the Vision 2030 target (which was subsequently raised from 30 to 40 percent).

How we wrote it




Arab News published a 3-page special report in an award-winning souvenir edition designed by artist Malika Favre.

This was all unthinkable at the time the driving ban was lifted. So let us reverse, if you will, to a time when the Kingdom was the last country in the world in which women could not drive. Arriving on a humid morning at Jeddah’s airport, I stepped off the plane in my abaya, with a sense of excitement tempered by fear at what I might encounter as a solo foreign woman. After a decade living in the UAE, I had heard stories from other women about their encounters with the Saudi religious police, so I wrapped my headscarf tightly and prepared for the worst.

Mistakenly joining the line for Umrah arrivals, I was approached by a customs officer who, after looking at my visa, asked me to have a seat while he sorted an issue by calling an Arabic speaker in our Jeddah newsroom. “This is it,” I thought. “I’m going to jail.”

What happened next was a total surprise. He returned, offering me Arabic coffee and a chocolate heart before helping me through the gates. The driver sent to pick me up told me I did not have to wear a headscarf, so I let it go around my shoulders, already feeling more relaxed.

For the next few days, I made my trips to the Jeddah newsroom with Bakhsh, our ever-smiling company driver who insisted on carrying my bags, whenever he was available. To those who suggest the lifting of the driving ban was just a token gesture, I can tell you this: it was anything but. Imagine getting through your day by relying on someone to pick you up at every point, and then remember the sense of freedom you felt when you got your driving license and the keys to your first car.

Key Dates

  • 1

    Royal decree issued ordering lifting of ban on women driving in the Kingdom.

    Timeline Image Sept. 26, 2017

  • 2

    First driving licenses issued to 10 Saudi women in the Kingdom.

  • 3

    Women officially allowed to drive on the Kingdom’s roads for the first time; Aseel Al-Hamad becomes the first Saudi woman to drive a Formula One car, completing a symbolic lap around the French Grand Prix circuit at Le Castellet.

    Timeline Image June 24, 2018

  • 4

    Saudi racing driver Reema Juffali makes her Formula 4 British Championship debut at Brands Hatch in the UK.

    Timeline Image Apr. 6, 2019

  • 5

    Juffali becomes the first female driver to claim pole position in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.

    Timeline Image Sept. 3, 2023

  • 6

    Formula E announces that Saudi female racing driver Reem Al-Aboud has set a new FIA single-seater acceleration benchmark in a GenBeta electric racing car, besting the F1 benchmark.

    Timeline Image March 5, 2024

So when the clocks on our iPhones turned to 12:01 a.m. on June 24 it was not only a sign to start our engines, it was time for Saudi Arabia to leave this old way behind.

At this time I was already in the driver’s seat of our company car, wearing Saudi designer Moe Khoja’s driving jacket, embroidered with the date of this momentous occasion. My boss, Faisal J. Abbas, sitting beside me in the passenger’s seat, had designated me to take him and two female colleagues on this drive, because a Saudi woman in our newsroom had yet to obtain a license. It was not only a historic occasion for me; for them, it was the first time they had been driven by a woman in the Kingdom.

Off we drove that night in a big black SUV, rolling down our windows at stoplights and waving to surprised Saudis, who smiled and gave us the thumbs up. The real test was when we pulled up next to a police car at the next light. We waited in nervous silence until the light turned green and then we let go of our breaths, driving off without incident.

The next morning, as more Saudi women took to the roads, I approached the rental-car desk in my hotel lobby to ask about hiring a vehicle. The man told me it was not possible. “Oh yes it is,” I told him. “Haven’t you read the news?” 




Former Arab News editor Mo Gannon takes to the road on the day the ban on women driving was lifted. AN Photo

I showed him the special edition of Arab News that day, wrapped in Malika Favre’s illustration of a Saudi woman driving, which went on to become an iconic image of that day. Sadly, it did not help my appeal. The assistant called his supervisor, who told me I needed a Saudi license.

Remarkably, after I wrote in Arab News about this experience, the chief operating officer of Budget Saudi Arabia contacted me to rectify the confusion. He invited me to visit the company’s office on the Corniche, where I produced my international driver’s license and became the first foreign woman to rent a car in Saudi Arabia.

As I climbed into the white Land Cruiser, people on the street stopped to take photos. That night, when I took the Arab News ladies on a drive to Old Jeddah, we got the same reception from the crowded streets: smiles and waves. I am glad we soaked up the celebrity attention while we had it, because as more Saudi women obtained their licenses, it became commonplace to see women driving in the Kingdom. And not only driving: living their own lives, running companies, working in senior government roles, traveling into space and representing Saudi Arabia on the world stage, whether it is in Washington or on a sports field. I have watched them do so with unmatched grace, determination and courage.

Back at home in Canada, when I’m asked about Saudi Arabia, I’m proud to tell the story of how I got to be part of that day. But my story takes a back seat to Saudi women, who are in the driver’s seat now. I can’t wait to see where they go on the road ahead.

  • Mo Gannon became the first foreign woman to rent a car in Saudi Arabia when she was a senior editor in the Dubai bureau of Arab News.


Foreign currency sukuk issuance projected to reach $80bn in 2025

Foreign currency sukuk issuance projected to reach $80bn in 2025
Updated 52 sec ago
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Foreign currency sukuk issuance projected to reach $80bn in 2025

Foreign currency sukuk issuance projected to reach $80bn in 2025

RIYADH: The global sukuk market is poised to maintain its strength in 2025, with foreign currency-denominated issuances expected to reach between $70 billion and $80 billion, according to a new report by S&P Global.

In the first half of 2025, foreign currency sukuk issuances rose 8.94 percent year on year to $41.4 billion, driven by increased activity in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia remained a key player, contributing 38.9 percent of the total market volume, as local banks continued to support Vision 2030-related initiatives.

Earlier this year, Fitch Ratings shared a similar outlook, forecasting that Saudi Arabia would remain a major driver of US dollar-denominated sukuk and debt issuance in 2025 and 2026. Banks in the Kingdom alone are expected to issue over $30 billion as institutions seek to diversify their funding sources.

The increase in global sukuk issuance came despite external headwinds, including new US tariffs and delayed interest rate cuts. S&P noted that issuers in core Islamic finance markets took advantage of brief periods of market stability to secure funding.

“We expect performance in the second half of the year to depend on the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East. However, since we don’t expect a full-scale regional war, we think the resilient foreign currency issuance trends observed in the first half will continue,” S&P Global said in the report.

“It will also be supported by the Fed’s expected reduction in interest rates. Therefore, we maintained our forecasts for foreign currency-denominated issuances to reach about $70 billion to $80 billion for the full year in 2025,” it added.

Foreign currency sukuk issuance had already climbed to $72.7 billion in 2024, a 29 percent increase from the previous year, supported by significant financing needs in Islamic finance hubs and fiscal pressures due to lower oil prices.

According to S&P, geopolitical tensions are not expected to significantly disrupt issuance this year. Instead, market activity will hinge on the direction of monetary policy, domestic liquidity conditions, and investment trends in key Islamic finance countries.

Local currency issuance

Despite the robust performance of foreign currency sukuk, total sukuk issuance globally fell 15 percent in the first half of 2025 to $101.3 billion. The decline was largely due to a steep drop in local currency sukuk, which fell to $59.8 billion from $81 billion a year earlier. Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE all reported weaker domestic issuance.

S&P attributed this to liquidity constraints in some markets and improved fiscal performance in others, reducing the need for domestic borrowing.

“For example, we have observed a significant drop in local currency issuances in Saudi Arabia, where banks’ liquidity is instead being channeled into financing Vision 2030. The drop was mainly underpinned by lower issuances from the government,” the agency said.

Shariah Standard 62

S&P also pointed to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the implementation of Shariah Standard 62 by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions .

In April, AAOIFI announced amendments to the draft standard following industry feedback but did not provide details or a timeline.

The proposed guidelines aim to harmonize key elements of the sukuk structure, including asset backing, ownership transfer, and trading rules.

“The implementation process following the amendment is also uncertain. This means that it is now very difficult to determine the implications of adopting the new standard on market performance,” S&P noted.

“The need to issue prior to the adoption of the standard may also abate since issuers and investors no longer perceive the disruption as imminent,” it added.

Fitch Ratings had earlier warned that the standard could significantly reshape the sukuk market and potentially increase fragmentation if adopted in its current form.

Sustainable sukuk

Sustainable sukuk issuance surged 27 percent in the first half of 2025 to $9.3 billion, up from $7.4 billion in the same period last year, according to S&P.

Banks, led by the Islamic Development Bank, accounted for nearly half of the total, followed by corporates from the GCC and Malaysia. These instruments fund environmentally friendly projects such as renewable energy and green infrastructure.

Saudi issuers dominated the market, accounting for over 60 percent of total sustainable sukuk issuance. S&P attributed this to the alignment of Islamic finance with sustainability principles, the central role of the Islamic Development Bank, and strong funding demand from local banks.

In January, Fitch projected that outstanding ESG sukuk globally would exceed $50 billion in 2025, with Saudi Arabia playing a leading role.

The total value of ESG-focused sukuk climbed 23 percent year on year to $45.2 billion in 2024, according to Fitch.

In February, Saudi Arabia also raised €2.25 billion ($2.36 billion) through a euro-denominated bond offering under its Global Medium-Term Note Program, including its first green tranche.


Turki Alalshikh announces The Ring IV in Riyadh Season featuring four world title fights

Turki Alalshikh announces The Ring IV in Riyadh Season featuring four world title fights
Updated 4 min 45 sec ago
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Turki Alalshikh announces The Ring IV in Riyadh Season featuring four world title fights

Turki Alalshikh announces The Ring IV in Riyadh Season featuring four world title fights
  • Leading the fight card is the WBO world welterweight title clash between American star Devin Haney and compatriot Brian Norman Jr.
  • In the second title bout, David Benavidez, the reigning WBC light heavyweight champion, take on British contender Anthony Yarde

RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and chairman of the Saudi Boxing Federation, officially announced the fourth edition of the global boxing event The Ring IV, scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 22, at ANB Arena in Riyadh.

Part of Riyadh Season, the event will feature four headline bouts for major world titles.

Leading the fight card is the WBO world welterweight title clash between American star Devin Haney and compatriot Brian Norman Jr. Haney enters the bout with a perfect record of 32 wins (15 by knockout), aiming to become a three-division world champion. This is his second fight at welterweight after defeating Arnold Barboza Jr. in the inaugural The Ring event held at Times Square.

Norman Jr., who also has an undefeated record of 28 wins (22 by knockout), comes into the fight fresh off a dominant KO victory against Japan’s Jin Sasaki, whom he stopped with a powerful left hook in the fifth round.

In the second title bout, David Benavidez, the reigning WBC light heavyweight champion, take on British contender Anthony Yarde. Benavidez is unbeaten in 30 fights, including 24 knockouts, and will be making his first title defense. Yarde enters the ring with a record of 27 wins (24 by knockout) and three losses, seeking to dethrone the American in what is expected to be an explosive encounter.

In the lightweight division, American Abdullah Mason will face Britain’s Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight title. Mason brings a flawless record of 19 wins, 17 by knockout, while Noakes comes in undefeated as well, with 17 victories, 15 by knockout. With both fighters known for their high knockout ratios and aggressive styles, this bout is considered one of the most anticipated matchups among the new wave of lightweight contenders.

The night will conclude with a super flyweight (super bantamweight) showdown between US champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Argentina’s undefeated Fernando Martinez. Rodriguez has 21 wins (14 by knockout), while Martinez has 18 wins, including 9 knockouts, with no losses. The fight will be contested for the prestigious The Ring title and is expected to deliver a high-level tactical and fast-paced boxing display.


Saudi chocolate industry expands as Riyadh leads in manufacturing registrations

Saudi chocolate industry expands as Riyadh leads in manufacturing registrations
Updated 18 min 15 sec ago
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Saudi chocolate industry expands as Riyadh leads in manufacturing registrations

Saudi chocolate industry expands as Riyadh leads in manufacturing registrations

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s cocoa and chocolate manufacturing sector is seeing growing entrepreneurial interest, with the number of active commercial registrations reaching 3,532 by the end of June.

A report by the Ministry of Commerce revealed that the Riyadh region topped the list with 1,490 active commercial registrations, followed by the Makkah region with 909 and the Eastern Province with 416. Al-Qassim and Madinah ranked fourth and fifth with 213 and 149 filings, respectively.

The chocolate manufacturing landscape in the Kingdom has evolved considerably, establishing itself as the largest producer among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to a release by Mordor Intelligence, a market research firm specializing in data-driven industry insights.

“The industry has shown remarkable progress in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and sustainable practices, particularly in response to increasing consumer demand for premium chocolate products,” the release highlighted.

The analysis, published in May, indicates that Saudi Arabia had over 1,000 chocolate-producing facilities in 2023, with Riyadh accounting for around 35 percent of these production sites.

It also notes that the country’s chocolate market is segmented by confectionery variants — dark, milk, and white chocolate — and by distribution channels, including convenience stores, online retail, supermarkets, and others.

The report highlighted that this strong manufacturing base enables the country to produce around 50 percent of its chocolate domestically, thereby reducing reliance on imports while maintaining high-quality standards.

The firm estimates the Saudi chocolate market size at $1.23 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach $1.53 billion by the end of the decade, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent during the forecast period from 2025 to 2030.

“The Saudi Arabia chocolate market is experiencing significant transformation driven by changing consumer demographics and preferences. With over half the population under 25 years old as of 2023, the market is heavily influenced by younger consumers who are increasingly health-conscious yet maintain strong chocolate consumption patterns,” the Mordor Intelligence study stated.

It added that this demographic shift has led to interesting consumption patterns, with “studies showing that two-thirds of Saudi children consume chocolate twice daily in 2023.”

The firm believes that consumer spending patterns in the Kingdom’s chocolate market reflect the country’s growing affluence and changing preferences.

“In 2023, the annual chocolate expenditure per person in Saudi Arabia reached $41, significantly higher than the Middle Eastern average of $4. This high per capita spending is particularly noteworthy given that over 66 percent of consumers in Saudi Arabia claimed they were willing to pay more for quality products in 2022,” the analysis said.

The study noted that the trend toward premiumization has prompted chocolate manufacturers in the Kingdom to introduce more sophisticated product lines and innovative flavor combinations.

According to Mordor Intelligence’s global chocolate market analysis, the industry is experiencing a notable shift in consumption patterns, particularly in established markets where sophisticated consumer preferences are driving product innovation.

“Europe stands as a testament to this trend, processing 35 percent of the world’s cacao and accounting for 45 percent of global chocolate consumption in 2022. Switzerland leads this consumption pattern with an impressive chocolate consumption per capita of 11 kg in 2022, setting benchmarks for premium chocolate consumption globally,” the firm said in its release.

It added that this high consumption rate has encouraged manufacturers to expand their premium product lines and experiment with new flavors and formulations.

The company further reported that global chocolate demand is rising, driven by increased per capita consumption and a strong gifting culture. It added that Europe leads consumption, accounting for nearly 48 percent of the market, with the UK and Switzerland having the highest per capita rates.


Four dead in fire at major Cairo telecomms hub, Internet disrupted

Fire fighters battle flames for the second day after a fire engulfed the main telecom company building in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday.
Fire fighters battle flames for the second day after a fire engulfed the main telecom company building in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday.
Updated 16 min 24 sec ago
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Four dead in fire at major Cairo telecomms hub, Internet disrupted

Fire fighters battle flames for the second day after a fire engulfed the main telecom company building in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday.
  • Internet and phone connections were still heavily disrupted in Cairo on Tuesday, with the Egyptian stock exchange suspending operations

CAIRO: At least four people were killed and 27 injured in a fire at a major telecomms center in Egypt’s capital that caused widespread disruptions, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Internet and phone connections were still heavily disrupted in Cairo on Tuesday, with the Egyptian stock exchange suspending operations.

Flights into and out of the capital had also been affected by the fire, which began on Monday evening, although by the following morning the civil aviation ministry said all flights had resumed following delays caused by the blaze.

Gas and electricity outages were also reported on Monday by Cairo governor Ibrahim Saber.

“Civil defense forces recovered four bodies from the scene of the incident,” the healthy ministry said in a statement.

The authorities are yet to announce a cause for the fire, nor has any information been given about the 27 injured.

Local media reported that the fire at the Ramses Exchange, the former communications ministry headquarters, was extinguished on Monday night.


Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China

Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China
Updated 17 min 8 sec ago
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Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China

Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China
  • Team includes 12 specialists from the ministry’s water agency, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, and the NCVC
  • Course, being held in Lanzhou, China, from July 3-22, focuses on rainwater harvesting technologies and their applications

RIYADH: A Saudi team from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is taking part in a training program organized by the Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The team includes 12 specialists from the ministry’s water agency, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The course, being held in Lanzhou, China, from July 3-22, focuses on rainwater harvesting technologies and their applications. It is attended by representatives from China’s Ministry of Water Resources, along with several water experts and specialists.

The ministry said its participation aligns with efforts to implement international agreements and memoranda of understanding with partner countries. The course provides a unique platform for exchanging expertise in water-related fields, particularly rainwater harvesting, it added.

The course also covers the design of harvesting systems in rural and urban areas, improvement of collected water quality management and advanced purification technologies, the SPA added.

Supplementary irrigation techniques, economic evaluation of harvesting projects, concepts of sponge cities, water reuse, and the role of harvesting technologies in combating desertification and promoting sustainability are also explored.

The ministry said that the training features scientific lectures, practical workshops and field visits to innovative projects in several Chinese provinces.

The visits showcase systems for securing drinking water from rain, irrigated agriculture projects, sponge city initiatives, and integrated environmental models linking water technologies with urban and rural sustainability.

The ministry highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation and building national capacity in water management, according to the SPA.

This reflects its integrated approach to developing technical competencies, exchanging expertise with leading countries, advancing the water system and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions to water challenges in line with Vision 2030 goals.