If you are a woman in the Kingdom you may find yourself lost without a driver. After all the rules and law are such that women cannot drive so they do rely on the services of a driver whether that driver is a husband, son or individual who has been engaged to serve as a driver.
Woman are advised to proceed with caution if they choose to use a public taxi. Public taxis are in abundance in the Kingdom and most of the drivers are expat workers from all over but predominantly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. They may or may not know English or Arabic. With public taxis fees are usually negotiated. I suggest that if a woman chooses to use a public taxi she should know the area in which she needs to travel in order to confirm the driver is indeed taking her where she has requested. Never enter a public taxi without a working mobile and a basic ability to communicate in Arabic. Public taxis are the cheapest form of public transport. A reasonable fee (within Riyadh) to go around town is typically 10 SAR to be transported from point A to point B within a radius of 20 KM. Beyond 20 KM the rate will start to increase in increments depending on distance.
If a woman does not have a designated driver then my preference is to engage a private transport service. These taxi services are slightly more costly but the drivers usually speak both English and Arabic as well as using newer model cars with darkened windows in the back. They have reputations for punctuality, good driving records, safety and well being. However by comparison, a private taxi service would likely charge a minimum of 30 SAR for a trip within 20 KM from point A to point B.
The overall best option is to engage a full time driver. Of course one must first have a vehicle for the driver to use. There will be individuals in the Kingdom (both with and without iqamas) who will offer to be a fulltime driver. If a driver is engaged without an iqama one must realize that can be very risky and has the potential for significant legal problems. That should be avoided regardless of the “bargain” one believes they may be receiving!
The monthly rate for a driver varies on nationality. Sad but true. When one hires a full time driver the driver knows he is on call and at demand 24/7 unless told differently by his/her employer. Most drivers, in addition to driving one around, will also perform errands, wash the car daily, sweep the driveway, clean the garage and in some cases, do basic handyman tasks around the house. Most families who engage a full time driver have sponsored the driver and are also required to provide them housing. Many residences will have special rooms for a driver. These rooms are usually outside of the house.
Now back to how much should I pay for a full time driver… Many westerners prefer Filipino drivers as they can easily communicate in English. The going rate at this time is 1500 SAR per month. By comparison a driver from an African country or Pakistan may be engaged for 800 SAR per month.
Having a full time driver opens up a whole new world with a feeling of freedom and independence to a woman (as well as the rest of the family).
Filed under: culture, gender, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, Uncategorized, women driving
Carol, it would be great I think to have someone to drive you around since there are restrictions for female drivers there. Are you taking this route to engage a full time driver?
Well, as a woman, one has no choice in the matter! At the moment I use a private transport service but realistically for a woman to have a quality life in the Kingdom it is so much better to have a dedicated driver. However it does take time for one to get set up and established in the Kingdom. For example, when choosing to legally engage a driver it can take from 3-5 months since one has to apply for the visa and sponsor a driver from wherever to come to the Kingdom and work.
I may add to this the dangers, one is the look of alone woman with foreigner taxi driver may push the driver to steal the woman purse I heard two accidents like and once it happened to my old mother when the Taxi driver yelled for the purse. lucky She got out fast and it was in public street .
Today, if you visited some cities other than Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and eastern region cities you’ll find it impossible to find any Taxi service, I found that true when I visited Madinah you’ll have to stand in street and wave till a stranger in Detsun or Hilux pick you up.
Truesa — thanks for contributing your important points!!
I never got this, it is “illegal” to be alone with an unrelated male, but it is okay to be with an unrelated male who drives you around for maybe hours at a time alone?
It seems to me there is some racism involved in this concept. Of course a “decent” Saudi woman would never consider getting up to “no good” with a foreigner from Pakistan, Africa, or anywhere else, so it is okay if they are alone with a man from one of these countries, but another Saudi male? NEVER!
Of course, the stories of Saudi women getting up to “no good” with these very same drivers are LEGION.
Anyway, I guess if Saudi hypocrisy mixed with a dose of racism helps feed people back in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Africa, then it isnt such a bad thing. };>)
Yes, Abu Sinan, it does not necessary make sense but if one has a legal sponsored driver it is okay and not unlawful for the women in the family to be taken alone in the car with this same unrelated male.
And in fact someone just told me today (a Saudi male) that I should look at engaging a Saudi male driver as they are most familar with the way one needs to drive here. Interesting thought but I cannot see my Saudi husband feeling at ease with that suggestion!
Helo
truesa is totally wrong whe she says that in Madina some Hilux person will help !!!!
This is impossible. No diriver of a private vehicle can take a woman in his vehicle unless he is a hired driver for her family or the car is registered as a taxi. Otherwise there is a squad of religious people (mutawas) from a department called Amar-bil-maaroof-wa-nahee-anil-munkar catch them and charge for illigal extramarital relations. Both of them can be 1- Beheaded or 2- Stoned or Jailed for life. Which ever seems suited for the judge.
So, be carefull.
Hafiz,
That’s a good point and reminds me of the Tash ma Tash episode this past Ramadan which was exactly on an unmarried man and woman innocently being caught together in his vehicle. If one does a search Tash ma Tash you’ll find the link until I am able to add it into this comment.
Could anybody please help me. I’m living in Saudi & when my husband wanted to employ a private driver, the company that he works for didn’t allow it & said that they will try to make a driver available for the families. Now I feel trapped here when my husband is away at work & I have the vehicle outside the house, but aren’t aloud to use it.
If anybody could explain the laws regarding hiring private drivers to me.
Cookiemonster,
Is this perhaps due to security regulations or restrictions? I know for example some compounds which do not allow drivers on the compounds citing security reasons. But I am not aware of any specific laws where an employer can forbid an employee from engaging a driver…again, unless it is somehow related to security. Just my two cents worth…
Thank you very much American Bedu. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with the compound regulations, as the driver already has an ID for the compound. Could it possibly be because it is a company vehicle?
It could likely be because it is a company vehicle. That one makes a lot of sense given the insurance and liability issues.
Thank you very much. I will see what we can do.
How about if your husband were to buy his own vehicle (new or second hand)? I don’t think anyone could have any objections then.
Ok, it is November, 2010 now and I really need an update on the subject. Just had to fire the driver, since most of the time he was either sleeping during the day or praying. We paid for his “relaxation” 2000SAR with living and 1 day off per week. Interviewed several people, but they want kind of too much, I think. 3500-4000 per month. What is the current salary rate?
Thank you.
Hi Lada,
In regards to current salary rate, much depends on whether you are sponsoring a driver (through an agency) or hiring one independently. Secondly, what is included with the salary – lodging, meals?
I am presently not in Saudi so I am not too sure on what folks are paying now but I would say between 2500-3000 would be fair if it also includes lodging and meals.
Good luck!