Women Car Clubs in Saudi Arabia: Driving Change and Empowerment

The Rise of Women Driving in Saudi Arabia

With the lifting of the ban on women driving in June 2018, thousands of Saudi women began obtaining driving licenses and actively joining everyday traffic life. By the first anniversary of the decision, around 50,000 women in Saudi Arabia had officially received driving licenses, marking a historic transformation in the lives of Saudi women.
This growing interest in driving and car culture paved the way for new initiatives aimed at empowering women and supporting their participation in society. In 2019, the Kingdom witnessed the establishment of the first women focused car club, created to commemorate this milestone and reflect broader efforts to promote women empowerment across different sectors.

Volkswagen Women Car Club

The VolkswagenUAE VolkswagenBahrain VolkswagenEgypt VolkswagenKSA VolkswagenKuwait VolkswagenOman VolkswagenQatar Volkswagen Women Car Club was the first car club dedicated exclusively to Saudi women drivers. It was established in June 2019 as an initiative by Volkswagen Middle East dealers. The club was created to bring together Saudi women who share a passion for cars under one platform, allowing them to exchange experiences, build friendships, and break long standing social barriers related to car culture.
Volkswagen described the launch of the club as a new milestone in the history of women driving in the Kingdom, emphasizing that the brand’s message focuses on unity and connection. Supporting such clubs, according to the company, strengthens women empowerment and reinforces feelings of confidence, independence, and belonging among female drivers.

Saudi Ladies Car Club

The Saudi Ladies Car Club was founded in 2022 in Jeddah as a community driven initiative aimed at developing women’s driving skills and automotive knowledge. The club focuses on sharing expertise and benefits among its members across various automotive fields, including motorsports, car modification, maintenance, and professional training.
The club actively organizes educational and hands on workshops designed to enhance members’ skills and ensure they gain maximum value from participation. At present, the club serves women in three main regions Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. Looking ahead, it aims to represent Saudi Arabia in international automotive events and to promote a positive car culture within families across the Kingdom.

Activities and Women Only Gatherings

Women car clubs in Saudi Arabia have played a major role in organizing diverse events that bring female driving enthusiasts together. One notable example was the first gathering of women owned modified cars in Jeddah in November 2022. The event brought together more than 20 female drivers from Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, offering a platform to network and exchange knowledge about car modification and customization.
In terms of advanced driving skills, women led drifting and autocross events have also been launched, organized by Saudi female experts in the field.

Another major milestone came in March 2023 with the organization of Rally Jameel, the first women only navigation rally in Saudi Arabia. The rally took place between Hail and Riyadh and featured 64 female drivers from more than 15 countries. Unlike speed based racing, the event focused on navigation and endurance under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.

Partnerships and Institutional Support

Women car clubs in Saudi Arabia benefit from strong support by local institutions and automotive companies. For example, MGUAE MGKSA MGOman MGQatar MGBahrain MGEgypt MGKuwait MG Saudi Arabia sponsored Rally Jameel, with company executives highlighting the importance of backing initiatives that empower women and promote leadership in motorsports.
The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation also plays a key role by overseeing these events to ensure they are conducted safely and recognized officially. These partnerships reflect the commitment of both public and private sectors to supporting women participation in automotive and motorsport activities, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Future Outlook

These women car clubs and related social activities represent a significant shift in the role of Saudi women within the country’s evolving society. Beyond skill development, these communities help build supportive networks centered around a shared passion for cars.
As the number of female drivers continues to grow and activities expand, it is expected that

women car clubs will reach additional cities across the Kingdom. This expansion will contribute to sustaining the momentum of women empowerment and reinforcing independence and confidence for Saudi women on the road.