Saudi Arabia's Lifting of Female Driving BanA: Historically, Saudi Arabia was the only country globally where women were not allowed to drive. This ban had been in place for a long time. The reasons were complex. Firstly, some related it to the country's conservative religious and cultural norms.

A: Historically, Saudi Arabia was the only country globally where women were not allowed to drive. This ban had been in place for a long time. The reasons were complex. Firstly, some related it to the country's conservative religious and cultural norms. The strict "gender segregation" system in Saudi Arabia meant that women were supposed to be under the company and supervision of men when going out. Since there was a male around, there seemed to be no need for women to drive themselves. Also, it was thought that if a female driver had an accident, she would have to interact with a strange male driver without supervision, which violated the gender segregation rule.

B: However, this situation changed in 2018. The Saudi government made a significant decision to lift the ban on women driving. King Salman issued a royal decree allowing women to obtain driver's licenses starting from June 2018. This was seen as a major step forward in promoting gender equality in the country. It was also part of the country's broader modernization efforts. For example, the government hoped to encourage more women to participate in the workforce, and giving them the right to drive made it more convenient for them to commute to work. Since then, many Saudi women have been able to get behind the wheel legally, marking a new era for women's rights in the country.