RIYADH — Uber and Alnahda, a non-profit organization, hosted a special ceremony in recognition of women who benefited from the partnership between Uber and Alnahda, and earned their driver’s licenses from the Saudi Driving School (SDS). The ceremony took place at Alnahda’s headquarters in Riyadh, and saw the first group of women beneficiaries of the ‘Masaruky’ initiative honored at the event by special guests from Alnahda, Transport General Authority, Saudi Driving School (SDS) and Uber.

Graduates and program participants had the chance to meet leaders from Uber and Alnahda, and representatives from partners providing products or services that can help facilitate their driving experience.

Speaking at the event, Brooks Entwistle, Uber’s Chief Business Officer, International, said: “I am honored to have had the opportunity to welcome graduates and participants in the driving program under Uber’s ‘Masaruky’ initiative. It gives us great pride to know that this program and partnership with Alnahda is yielding results for beneficiaries who will now have access to greater flexible economic opportunities as a result of earning their driver’s license.”

For her part, Muneera Altouq, Board Member of Alnahda Society, said: “Today marks a significant milestone for Alnahda’s partnership with Uber. What graduates have achieved is not merely a driver’s license, rather, it is a stepping stone for encouraging more women to join the workforce and contribute to the growth of local economic sustainability. We look forward to the partnership’s continued success and to honoring more graduates in the near future.”

Commenting on the initiative, Eng. Fawaz Al -Sihili, Vice President of Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority, said: “I would like to thank Alnahda, The Saudi Driving School and Uber for coming together to support and empower the women whom we are honoring at tonight’s ceremony. This event marks an important milestone on the road towards empowering more women to drive, and to providing access to economic opportunities around the Kingdom”

Ms.Dana AlOtaishan, Deputy General Manager- Saudi Driving School added “In this special event, all the participated entities gathered to achieve the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in empowering Women, and here we are proudly celebrating the beneficiaries for receiving their driving licenses that will yield achievements on the personal and economical level. Wishing you all safe driving and promising future.”

The partnership between Uber, Alnahda, and Saudi Driving School falls under Uber’s ‘Masaruky’ (“your path” in Arabic) initiative announced in 2018, which includes a SAR 1 million pledge aimed to increase women’s participation in the workforce through access to affordable transportation, in addition to increasing women’s access to flexible, part-time economic opportunities through the use of Uber technology. Today, thousands benefit from the ‘Masaruky’ initiative, including the graduates who were honored at the ceremony. — SG