Dubai traffic police are seeing an increase in the number of Saudi women seeking to obtain drivers’ licenses in the city and other cities within the United Arab Emirates.What the report doesn't mention is that this may be way for women to legally drive in Saudi Arabia.
Dubai Chief of Police Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan said police are receiving driving-license applications from Saudi women wanting to drive in Dubai and other cities, although he noted the number of requests are not particularly high.
He said Saudi women possessing driving licenses are permitted to drive in Dubai.
Although the number of Saudi women seeking to drive outside the Kingdom is relatively low, there is an increased interest to get behind the wheel. In fact, more and more Saudi husbands and fathers are supportive of the idea because it means convenience for the families and independence for their wives and daughters.
Saudi women also head to Bahrain to receive driving instructions and exams.
Saudi Arabia doesn't ban women from driving; it bans women from getting drivers' licenses. If a man with a UAE or Bahraini driver's license can drive in Saudi Arabia, then women with a valid license should be able to as well.
I wonder how long it will be before some brave Saudi women test this out.
Although, according to this article in the Saudi Gazette, some Saudi women are already quietly driving:
We all know that Saudi women in remote areas drive their cars between villages and that people in those areas accept it and do not see anything wrong with it. The women drive from one village to another and get their business done, or some times in emergencies they drive out of necessity.