In September 2017, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that, for the very first time, Saudi women will be allowed to drive. This is a decision of monumental importance to every facet of life in the country. With the female population of Saudi Arabia being over 15 million and accounting for 45% of the population, it is expected that women’s daily lives, activities, society contributions, time and money allocation will change, and as a result will affect the wider community, well-being, economy and sustainability of the country as envisaged in Vision 2030. At the same time, allowing women to drive will also create new challenges that have to be carefully understood for sustainable development to be achieved.

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In light of this, the aim of the She Drives KSA research project is to examine and analyse the travel behaviour and activity patterns of women mobility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia BEFORE and AFTER women are allowed to drive, and to identify the impacts of this decision on the aspects of sustainable development and traffic safety in the Kingdom.

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This research project is nation-wide (across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). It is expected to be the base of future research conducted on this topic, as it is the very first of its kind in the Kingdom. This research project is expected to provide rigorous findings that are of value not only to Saudi Arabia, but to the worldwide research community as well. Finally, it is also a unique opportunity, for those responsible for the transportation system and its safety, those interested in female-focused studies, and for various companies affiliated with the transportation sector or sustainable development to participate in this study as a part of their own social responsibility and contribution to the community.