Saudia’s First Female Train Drivers Will Drive Between Makkah and Madinah

In a major milestone for gender equality, Saudi Arabia has successfully trained its first batch of female train drivers. These women will soon be operating the Kingdom’s high-speed trains on the Haramain line between Makkah and Madinah, breaking new ground in a traditionally male-dominated field.

On New Year’s Day, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced this new achievement by tweeting the graduation video of its first batch. The batch consists of 32 women who have been trained to drive trains on the Haramain high-speed line between Makkah and Madinah. These female graduates completed 480 hours of training in various disciplines, including railway theory, work hazards, traffic, safety laws, and other technicalities.

The Saudi Arabia Railways officials find this endeavor to be an inspiring one. They hope these women will be able to encourage other Saudi women to pursue careers in the railway industry.

This achievement was also praised by the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh Al Jasser. While appreciating this feat, he stated that it is another breakthrough toward the localization of skills and empowerment of women in the railway sector. He said that women’s inclusion in the workforce is critical to the country’s prosperity and that qualified women will soon operate trains connecting the holy cities.

Female Drivers in Saudi Arabia

For 30 years, women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were banned from driving any kind of vehicle. This 30-year-old ban was lifted in June 2018, and women were finally allowed to drive. This relaxation was granted as a part of “Vision 2030,” a plan by the Saudi government. To improve the kingdom’s economy and create a more secure and advanced future. More than 174,000 driving licenses have been issued to Saudi women since this ban was lifted!

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