The only country in the world where women are forbidden to drive

Saudi Arabia is a veritable "oil kingdom", with the world's largest oil reserves and production, making it one of the richest countries in the world, and the world's largest producer of desalinated seawater, accounting for about 21% of the world's total. Saudi Arabia has a liberal economic policy. Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and is a holy place for Islamists to perform the hajj.

Why are women not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia?

The reason is said to be that the Saudi Supreme Religious Council has issued a "scientific report" that says allowing women to drive will lead to a surge in prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and divorce. That's why Saudi Arabia has prohibited women from driving since the country was founded in 1932.

This argument is not shared by women, who have campaigned to be able to drive, but the policy of not issuing driver's licenses to women has not been relaxed. Women who drive privately on the road are at risk of being arrested or charged. Currently, Saudi women who like to drive can only play with bumper cars.

In Saudi Arabia, women have a low status. Men can marry several wives, but are afraid to marry more than one. The burden of marrying a wife here is very heavy, you have to have a decent house, but also a bride price worth a lot of money, you have to afford to buy a car and hire a driver, so that when you are not available at work, someone will drive to accompany your wife to go shopping.

In addition to not being able to drive, Saudi women must wear an all-black smock that covers them from head to toe when they go out. In addition, they must obtain the consent of their male guardians to travel, work, apply for passports or get married abroad. Although knowledgeable Saudi figures also support lifting the ban, there are too many opponents for it to ever work. As the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive, Saudi Arabia is not ready to end the situation.