Careem, the Dubai-based ride-hailing firm, has unveiled its first female driver in Saudi Arabia, as the Gulf kingdom prepares to allow women behind the wheel from June 25.
According to Arab News, Enaam Gazi Al-Aswad was selected to become the first “captainah” from among around 3,000 women.
“It is wonderful to think that after all this time we will have the freedom to drive. It will help all of us build the future together in accordance with the Vision 2030 strategy,” she was quoted as saying by Arab News
The 43-year-old said she learned how to drive in her native Syria, and has a driving licence from that country, adding that she expects to be able to obtain a Saudi license when she has completed 10 hours of driving tuition under the new laws.
She has already received all the necessary training from Careem after being hand-picked by the company soon after last year’s royal decree on women driving.
Mudassir Sheikha, the co-founder and CEO of Careem, was quoted by Arab News as saying that he expects new business to eventually make up for any short-term fall-off in revenues when women are able to take to the roads themselves.
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