Latest news with #Masaruky
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Saudi women behind the wheel: How Uber is enabling women to earn, move, and lead in the Kingdom
Saudi women are increasingly turning to Uber to earn an income and gain independence in a changing Saudi Arabia/Representative Image TL;DR: Since the lifting of the driving ban in 2018, ride-hailing giants like Uber have empowered Saudi women to become drivers—boosting their economic participation and autonomy. Over 500% growth observed in female ride-hailing operation from 2020 to 2021, rising from 600 to nearly 3,900 drivers. Nearly three-quarters of women drivers report using Uber as a source of financial stability, with more than 77% feeling safe while working. Uber's cultural innovations like ' Women Preferred View ' reflect growing societal acceptance and trust. From Ban to Behind the Wheel: A Transformative Journey Saudi Arabia's 2018 repeal of the women-driving ban was a landmark societal shift, granting women a long-awaited right. This reform unlocked ripple effects across sectors—particularly transportation and employment. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem quickly tapped into this momentum, launching targeted programs to recruit female drivers. Careem began hiring 'captainahs' in 2018 while Uber introduced initiatives like Masaruky and Women Preferred View to support women drivers in joining the gig economy. A Ride-Hailing Boom: Numbers Speak Volumes The figures underscore this cultural shift: As per Saudi Gazette, in 2021, the number of Saudi women working as ride-hailing drivers soared from around 600 to nearly 3,900—a 500% year-over-year increase. Over 21 million ride-hailing trips were operated in Saudi Arabia across 27 licensed apps, highlighting the scale and demand of this newly opened sector. Riding apps have gone from novelty to necessity, providing women with newfound mobility and a chance to reshape their roles in society. Financial Independence and Personal Growth Uber's internal studies offer compelling insights: Around 56% of female Saudi drivers reported using Uber to support their families. Nearly 77% said driving made them feel safer, and around 47% experienced improved financial stability. As Mohammad Aljuraish , Uber's Saudi GM, noted, driving is not just a job, it's a pathway to empowerment for women aged 21–46. Innovation in Action: Uber's Gender-Sensitive Features Recognizing cultural norms, Uber rolled out the Women Preferred View feature, allowing female drivers to accept only female riders. Initially piloted in 2019, it saw high adoption rates as more women opted to drive exclusively for women passengers. More recently, Uber introduced GigSister, a women's driver community initiative, to share experiences, build support networks, and reinforce safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo Broader Cultural Impact These shifts are more than economic, they are symbolic: Women's labour participation rose to 35.8% by Q2 2024, surpassing Vision 2030 targets. Women driving themselves, and inviting other women as passengers, challenges traditional gender roles and fosters a sense of independence . Importantly, many women report feeling more secure and empowered once they could step into the driver's seat—literally and metaphorically. Facing Challenges and Looking Ahead Despite this progress, challenges remain: Societal conservatism still frames some gender interactions . Female drivers cite licensing barriers, vehicle access, and fluctuating demand as structural hurdles . Ride-hail platforms and regulators must continue refining tools like Women Preferred View and safety policies to foster inclusion. Seven years after the driving ban was lifted, Saudi Arabia's ride-hailing transformation illustrates how a simple right of driving can unlock profound societal change. Uber's gender-centric features, combined with government reforms under Vision 2030, have given women autonomy behind the wheel. For countless Saudi women, driving with Uber is no longer about transportation, it is a vehicle to independence and social participation. As more platforms innovate and the cultural fabric evolves, this momentum may accelerate women's empowerment deeper into public and economic life.
CairoScene
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- CairoScene
Uber Launches Women Driver Feature for Female Riders in Saudi Arabia
To support the initiative, Uber is hosting the country's first GigSister event to connect female drivers and foster a professional community. Ride-hailing platform Uber has launched a new Women Drivers feature in Saudi Arabia, allowing women passengers to be matched exclusively with women drivers. The service offers both on-demand and scheduled rides using Uber Reserve, and is set to roll out nationwide over the coming weeks. To support the initiative, Uber is hosting the country's first GigSister event to connect female drivers and foster a professional community. The company has also partnered with Alnahda Society to provide training in financial literacy and capacity-building, building on previously successful programmes like Masaruky. Earlier women-focused efforts by Uber, including subsidised rides for women, a women rider‑preference feature, and national driver‑license initiatives, have helped boost female workforce participation.
Gulf Insider
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
Uber Launches All-Women Ride Option In Saudi Arabia To Boost Female Drivers
Ride-hailing giant Uber has introduced a new ride option in Saudi Arabia that allows women riders to be matched exclusively with female drivers, as part of broader efforts to increase women's participation in the workforce and the mobility sector. The initiative comes seven years after the Kingdom lifted the ban on women driving, and follows Uber's continued investment in localised programs to support Saudi Vision 2030 goals. The new feature, called Women Drivers , functions like the standard UberX service and will be gradually rolled out to riders across the country in the coming weeks. It enables women to either book on-demand trips or schedule them up to 30 minutes in advance using Uber Reserve. 'The launch of the 'Women Drivers' product reflects our commitment to empowering women and supporting their mobility and economic independence,' said Youssef Abouseif, General Manager of Uber in Saudi Arabia. 'We're giving women more choice, more opportunity, and a stronger sense of community.' Uber is also launching Saudi Arabia's first-ever GigSister event — a community-focused program offering a platform for female drivers to connect, share experiences, and build a local support network. In parallel, the company has partnered with Alnahda Society, a non-profit organisation focused on empowering women economically and socially. The collaboration includes capacity-building initiatives like financial literacy training, aiming to equip women with skills that could lead to economic independence, including driving for Uber. The new initiative builds on Uber's previous collaboration with Alnahda through the Masaruky program, which helped thousands of women gain driver's licenses and access mobility-based jobs. Uber has rolled out several female-focused services in Saudi Arabia in recent years, including: Wusool, which has facilitated over 20 million subsidised rides for women Women Rider Preference, allowing female drivers to exclusively accept women riders These efforts aim to increase women's workforce participation while offering greater comfort and flexibility for both drivers and riders.
