Saudi experience, right?
Every accident we have is because of you.
♪ electronic music ♪
Women are allowed to drive?
Driving in Saudi Arabia...
It wasn't allowed until last summer for women.
So today
I'm gonna take us through the streets of Riyadh
with a Saudi woman who is going to show us
what it's like to drive as a woman in Saudi Arabia.
Hello.
I'm here.
-Ethar, yeah? -Yeah.
Peter.
Hello, Peter. Oh, you don't look like Peter.
Hello.
You look like a professional behind the wheel already.
How long have you been driving?
For now... I think four months now.
Four months?
So this started.... It was last summer, right?
-When women could start driving? -Yeah.
Almost one year I guess.
Okay.
At first, people were becoming very excited
and everyone just wanted to get the license very fast.
Right.
But after that, when we really got all the license
and people are starting to buy cars and everything.
It becomes very, like, the norm.
-Very fast. -Right, right.
And even the loans for the cars were very flexible for girls.
-The loans were flexible? -Yeah.
Interesting, so it was actually less money
for a woman to buy a car than a man?
Yeah, I think because of the insurance thing as well.
Because they don't have as much accidents as guys do.
Like this car for example.
Have you crashed it?
Yeah.
-You have? -Yeah.
To be honest but it wasn't my fault really.
I would think that if you have all these new drivers
they'd have less experience maybe
and then their insurance rates would be higher
but it was the opposite.
Yes.
Because men probably drive more aggressively
but you drive pretty fast actually.
Well...
I'm not really a safe driver but don't worry, huh?
[chuckles]
It's Friday today so there's no traffic, right?
Yeah.
This is like an exciting time for you, right?
For young Saudis? I would think.
Yeah, there are many opportunities now.
Yeah, because I have no idea what's going on.
I've been here two days, right?
But so much information hit my head...
[chuckles] I can imagine.
-It's too much even for us. -It's like...
Like, I honestly saw a video that was made this year
that said if you get caught taking videos or photos in public
you will go to prison for one year and get 100 lashes.
This is what was online, right?
-Yeah, you know why? -Why?
Because they want to organize things.
Like we have these new rules...
If everything, like, before we started driving
they said this rule, you know?
Because they don't want people to film women driving.
Oh, so before, but now it's okay?
No, it's still you can't film them without their consent.
-Like in public. -Right, right.
The day you find out that women are allowed to drive...
-What were your emotions? -Oh my God, I remember.
I remember that day very, very clearly.
We were like... We didn't believe it at first.
It was like, "Is it actual? Is it real?
Is it finally are we going to drive? Are you sure?"
And then we started dancing and singing and everything
and the date they set for women driving, we were all out
and we were waiting like at 12:00.
"Yes, where are you women?"
and they started driving and it was like very nice.
Everyone was waving at them and they were waving back
-and having fun, yeah. -Wow.
What percentage of women are out here on the road do you think?
-Here in Riyadh? -Yeah.
It's very high.
I would say 70, 80 percent.
-Of women drive? -Yes.
Where are you taking us to?
-To a traditional restaurant. -Oh, cool, cool.
I have not had Saudi food yet.
-Really? -Yeah.
Okay, good.
You will hear about men rights very soon.
You're saying women get jobs easier than men here?
Yes.
Because if you have one woman it's like having two men
in the company.
They work harder or what?
No, it's like they have points they have to get
Oh.
So each woman equals two men.
This is the coolest parking garage I've ever seen.
Very nice place, Ethar.
-Let's just walk around. -Okay.
[people chattering]
-Is this one of your favorite restaurants? -Yes.
Okay, cool.
Harat... What does Harat mean?
-It means districts. -Districts, okay.
Are there any jobs women cannot do?
I mean, we're in the military now.
Right.
I don't think so.
You're a lawyer in the start-up space?
Yeah.
Lots of jobs.
I organize events, I organize trips, so...
Wow, very cool.
-Salam alaikum. -You're looking so good.
You too, brother.
[chuckles] Thank you, how are you?
Good, good.
-How are you? -Good, brother.
So are these concerts? That's new here, right?
-It's new. -Like in the last one or two years?
-A year ago. -1 Year?
Now here it's Riyadh season.
Okay.
Ali, how long have you guys been friends?
One year, I think.
-One year? -Yeah.
How did you meet, through mutual friends or how?
We met in Al Ula.
What's that?
Al Ula, in North of Saudi Arabia.
Oh, okay.
There is a Bocelli concert, Andrea Bocelli.
-Yeah. -Yeah, we met there.
You can see the carnival every day.
-This is the main course, okay? -Okay.
This is shatuka, it's eggs, tomato, onion
and everything mixed up.
Tradition breakfast, yeah.
This is Kabda.
-Kabda? -Yes.
Liver.
Shukra.
-This is the liver. -Liver, okay.
With tomatoes, onion, and everything.
It's very similar really.
-What is this? -The main dish.
-It's called ful. -Ful?
It looks like soup.
What do the men think about women driving in general?
[laughing]
We have one here so I cannot talk.
[laughing]
It's all right, I wouldn't mind.
C'mon, you guys get along.
Yeah.
She's a good driver though.
-Yes, yes. -She's good.
Who drives faster?
We have faster and they drive dangerous.
-Whoa. -Not everyone.
Yes, not everyone.
Not you, I'm not talking about you.
No, no, no.
We're much more careful than men.
We have less accidents.
Did you know their insurance is cheaper because they have less accidents?
It's a true fact.
[laughing]
Every accident we have, it's because of you.
Not you as you but you as men in general
because you feel like everyone can drive perfectly.
So I'm just gonna move dangerously and they can do it.
I cannot say anything, that's...
We follow the rules.
We've been taught differently than you.
You follow the main rule
we follow our rule in Saudi Arabia.
Yeah.
That's the problem. [all laughing]
Something's a little weird here, I'm the one dressing
like a traditional Saudi guy.
[giggling]
These guys...
Past Saudi Arabia, and the present Saudi Arabia,
and the future Saudi Arabia is completely...
There is big gaps between them.
Right.
You'll look like separate order.
Different people, different everything.
So you can see the new Saudi Arabia.
-How it will look like? -It's exciting.
Yeah.
Be connection with the world
without losing your culture, without lose yourself
without lose what you got.
That's the tough part I think.
Many companies...
Like nowadays they’re asking for yoga instructors.
Yeah.
So I wouldn't say that we're gonna lose it.
I don't think so.
Companies here are asking for yoga instructors?
Yes, I'm a yoga instructor.
-Wow. -I'm everything.
What doesn't she do?
This type of awareness will keep us really away from being on a wheel.
What do you mean by a wheel?
Being like machines and really separate ourselves from
the culture and just be...
Sell ourself to the system, you know?
The system here is very aware of that.
-And you're aware of that. -Yeah.
And how old are you if you don't mind me asking?
-25. -That's amazing.
That's amazing wisdom to have at 25.
Nice place, that was like a modern Saudi experience, right?
Yeah.
Okay, this is very, very dangerous driving.
-Don't film that. -That was quick but professional.
You hit the apex of the turn well.
And this is... What is this place?
Well, this is one of the Riyadh Seasons location.
It's like a huge carnival.
It was interesting, you and Ali were in disagreement
about driving styles.
Yeah.
Between the men and the women.
But you think there's a difference in the genders, right?
-What you were saying? -Yes.
But not many people think that
and I don't think difference means having the upper-hand for men.
No, that's totally... It's not what I'd say.
What do you say?
I'm saying we are different.
We should appreciate the differences and embrace them
in a very respectful way as much as we can.
-Mm-hmm. -But we don't deny them.
Denying them is not the answer.
Oh, one thing I had a question of.
You know the women that are in full cover, right?
Yeah.
Do you think they all want to be in full cover or some want to be...
Can you tell me?
I can't interview, I can't talk to that person obviously.
So...
My mom would talk to you.
-Really? -Yeah.
Damn, I'm on a plane in two hours.
No, many people are wearing this out of 100% their choices.
-Like out of beliefs. -Uh-huh.
But there are many, they don't know what they want.
Like anything in general in life.
They would just choose the most-wanted course in University.
They would choose a proper job.
-They would choose things like that. -Mm-hmm.
So they don't really make their own choices in general life.
Right.
-And in covering their faces as well. -Mm-hmm.
It's not like for one particular things.
So it depends upon the woman?
Some women prefer to be fully covered by their own individual choice.
Yes.
And other people are just doing what society says.
Exactly.
And then others, I'm sure are doing because that's what
their husband or whomever said, right?
-Well no, there is none actually. -Really?
Yeah.
Do you think the Saudi women are very strong?
There's like a very strong character and personality?
[sighs] In general, yes.
Yes, we are.
I mean, like, in the middle of the desert what do you expect?
[chuckles]
Other than strong personalities?
Right.
You have to have a strong personality to survive in this...
not community but environment.
Like when you look to the history.
-It's essential. -Yeah.
With that said, thank you so much Ethar.
Thank you.
You are awesome, great driving experience.
[door opens]
Thank you so much and thank you for coming to me
and hopefully we'll have you soon?
-Inshallah. -Inshallah.
Cool.
-Have a nice day. -Thank you.
Bye-bye, thank you.
[car accelerating]
That's it, guys.
[car passes]
Day driving with a local Saudi woman.
It's an exciting time here.
I can feel the excitement out of these guys, like...
So much rapid change, so many new freedoms
and it's palpable, you can feel it here.
So hope you liked that.
Until next one.
[car passes]
♪ electronic music ♪