Women drivers

Saudi Arabia women were the last in the world to gain the freedom to drive a car. (Up until yesterday, they needed a man driving to get an errand done.) It was a promise kept by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In his quest to modernize the nation, women are getting more freedoms and cinema/music will be permitted. 

Bloomberg says there will be an economic benefit from this new policy. $90 billion may be added to the Saudi economy by 2030 just by freeing women to drive.

“Lifting the ban on driving is likely to increase the number of women seeking jobs, boosting the size of the workforce and lifting overall incomes and output,” according to Ziad Daoud, Dubai-based chief Middle East economist for Bloomberg Economics.

“I’m speechless. I’m so excited it’s actually happening,” said Hessah al-Ajaji, who drove her family’s Lexus down the capital’s busy Tahlia Street after midnight.