Alwaleed Philanthropies Empowers Women as Careem Drivers, Boosting Economic Growth in Saudi Arabia

Alwaleed Philanthropies recognizes the vital role women play in shaping society. With a commitment to enabling women’s active participation in economic and social development, the organization partnered with Careem to provide vehicles for women to work as drivers. This pioneering step helped integrate women into the workforce and opened new avenues for financial independence.

In 2022, the initiative was integrated into the broader housing and cars project, expanding its scope and increasing its impact. A total of 600 beneficiaries — both men and women — are expected to benefit from this inclusive program. The initiative adheres to legal and Sharia frameworks and contributes to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering economic growth, promoting societal development, and building a competitive and equitable society.

Through focused collaboration with its partners, the initiative was shaped around four core objectives:

• Promoting Gender Equality: By supporting women in exercising their right to drive, the initiative empowers them to take on active roles in their communities, promoting equity and inclusion.
• Fostering Societal Development: Enabling women to participate in the transportation sector contributes positively to the national economy and fosters broader societal advancement.
• Boosting Women's Workforce Participation: The initiative aligns with Vision 2030’s objective to increase women's participation in the labor market from 22% to 30%, tapping into a previously underutilized segment of the population.
• Reducing Household Financial Strain: By supporting women as drivers, the project helps decrease dependency on foreign drivers. A 2017 study by “Mal” revealed that Saudis paid SAR 35.28 billion to 1,385,553 foreign drivers, highlighting the potential economic impact of this initiative.

Alwaleed Philanthropies has built a strong network of partners to ensure the initiative’s long-term success. Key collaborators include:

• Ministry of of Municipalities and Housing
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
• Careem
• Changan Almajdouie
• Aljazirah Vehicles
• The Martyrs Fund (under exploration for future inclusion)

The initiative continued its momentum in 2024 with new progress and collaboration:

• Refined eligibility and selection criteria to ensure all participants qualify for both developmental and social support.
• 1,408 trips completed by 10 female captains by the end of the year.
• The third batch of the Captinah project is nearing completion.
• Preparations are underway for the launch of the fourth batch, in cooperation with:

7. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
8. The Ministry of of Municipalities and Housing
9. Oversight provided by the Social Welfare Agency and Alwaleed Philanthropies.

• Ongoing collaboration with the Martyrs Fund, exploring opportunities to integrate eligible beneficiaries into the project.

This initiative is a powerful example of how empowering women through inclusive employment opportunities can drive both social and economic progress. By breaking traditional barriers and promoting equitable participation in emerging sectors, Alwaleed Philanthropies is helping shape a more dynamic, diverse, and prosperous future for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.