Saudi Arabia May Allow Women Over 30 To Drive

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  

A royal appointed advisor for the Kingdom has proposed to allow women over 30 to drive with some exceptions. They must not wear makeup and not drive after 8 pm (20:00), wear a conditional dress and a permission from a male guardian 

The council recommendation are not obligatory which the government has to follow, but simply making a recommendation is a major step towards a potential change. There have been relatively small but bold protests about the driving ban inside the Kingdom. 

The ban has forced women to hire live-in drivers for women, and women cannot afford the price to hire one has to rely on male relatives to drive them to work, to shopping and etc.  

The law was enforced as a part of general restriction based on a very strict Islamic Sharia Law. Genders are very strictly segregated and women are required to wear head scarf and cover everything except for eyes and hand. Womens are required by law to have a male guardian when seeking higher education, traveling, to get married, Male guardians are usually father or a husband, but womens are also allowed to use her son and brother.