AFP, Riyadh :
Like other Saudi women, Fahda Fahd couldn’t legally drive until 2018, but her lime-green Kia is now a route to extra cash as living costs rise in the conservative kingdom. When she’s not working full time at a healthcare call centre, the 54-year- old picks up fares in the capital Riyadh from a ride-hailing app exclusively for women.
Fahd said her family was supportive of her second job, on two conditions: no long trips or men as passengers. “I decided to work as a taxi driver to earn extra income,” said Fahd, wearing a black head covering and an anti-coronavirus face mask. “My salary is not enough for my three children, and especially for my daughter who has special needs,” she told AFP.
Sweeping social reforms, including lifting the infamous ban on women driving, have transformed life for many Saudis, but rising costs are increasingly problematic. Fahd says her salary of 4,000 Saudi riyals ($1,066) a month from her regular job is not enough — but driving brings in another 2,500 riyals. She usually hits the road before her shift starts at 2:00pm, sometimes accepting passengers on her way home at 10 pm, and says she appreciates the flexible hours. “It has allowed me to help my retired husband pay monthly bills and for my children’s school needs,” she said, checking her phone for the latest fare.
