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Alwaleed Project

Alwaleed Empowers Women as Careem Drivers, Boosting Economic Growth

Careem Company (as partner)

The main beneficiaries are women (and men in the inclusive program) in Saudi Arabia who gain access to driving and employment opportunities.
Location
Saudi Arabia
Walkthrough Video

“Being part of this initiative has enabled me to grow personally and professionally—I now proudly drive, serve my community and contribute to the economy.” — Haifa Alomran, Captinah Driver

Careem Company (as partner)

Strategic Goals of the Initiative

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.

Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Impact

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

Achievements in 2024

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:
    • The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
    • The Ministry of of Municipalities and Housing
  • Ongoing collaboration with the Martyrs Fund, exploring opportunities to integrate eligible beneficiaries into the project.

Looking Ahead

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.

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