Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Red Sea port city of Jeddah is poised to host the first forum and exhibition to coincide with the lifting of the ban on women driving in the country. The event will unveil a number of new career opportunities and facilities made available by the historic move.

"Laki Al-Qiada", or "Driving is Yours”, is the first event that will be centered on the female driver in Saudi Arabia and the implementation of the decision while exploring its socioeconomic effects. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Federation of Motor Sports and Motorcycles, will open the two-day forum in Jeddah on July 8.

More than 20,000 women are being targeted at the "Laki Al-Qiada" forum, to be held in the presence of six government bodies, led by the ministries of Interior and Information, the General Department of Traffic, the strategic partner, and the Saudi Traffic Safety Society, as well as major car agencies, banks, insurance companies and logistics providers.

Five leading women will present working papers and an integrated vision on the challenges facing women after the decision is implemented. Also, legal advisers reveal the penalties for harassing women while driving and economists will talk about the effects and opportunities of the new decree.

According to Suhail Al-Tayar, the executive director of the forum, the event will be the first of its kind to interact with the decision of women driving and to explore the impact of the decision economically and socially, focusing on raising awareness of the role of women in economic, social and cultural development and creating the spirit of effort.

He said the main objective of the forum is to create awareness of the role of women in economic, social and cultural development and raise the spirit of joint efforts in building society and homeland in response to modern changes while conforming to religious values.

He pointed out that the forum will witness a series of discussion sessions, working papers on women's leadership, economic and social impact, the most important challenges facing Saudi and expatriate women, the size and type of training and job opportunities that will result from the decision.

He added: “The accompanying exhibition will be a platform for gathering all services related to women's driving under one roof including car offers, special discounts, and other services. The event will witness a series of workshops and awareness lectures by the participating official bodies.”

The forum will be sponsored by NCB, ALJ,UMC, Auto Zone, Road Master, Johnson Window film, Motory.com, Tajeer, MG, Careem, Nahwasharq, Jana, and Standardization Organization.