Saudi Gazette report

Riyadh — The first Saudi women’s exhibition for cars kicked off here on Sunday.

The three-day event aims at providing special education on driving and vehicle selection to women.

The exhibition, which is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors, will allow women to get to know all the car dealerships in Saudi Arabia and their special offers, as well as the offers of insurance companies and accessories for cars and to communicate directly with government and private supporting agencies.

The exhibition also has family events.

Women will be allowed to start driving in the Kingdom from June 24, General Department of Traffic Director General Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami said on May 8.

“All the requirements for women in the Kingdom to start driving have been established,” Bassami was quoted as saying in a statement released by the government.

In September 2017, a royal decree announced the end of a decades-long ban on women driving.

Women 18 years of age and older will be allowed to apply for a driver’s license, Bassami said.

Driving schools for women have been set up across five cities in the Kingdom, and teachers will include Saudi women who obtained their licenses abroad.

Women with foreign driving licenses will be able to apply for a local one through a separate process, which will also assess their driving skills.

“It is no secret that many women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hold driving licenses from abroad,” the statement added.