Saudi Arabia allowed the first wave of women to drive last Sunday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued a decree in September 2017 which allows women to apply for a driving licence. Thousands of women have already registered for a driving licence, and this number is expected to rise by 2020. The Mecca province is expected to have the highest number of female drivers in the next two years with just under a million female drivers. Women represent a new market for the Car sale By 2025, car sales in Saudi Arabia are expected to increase by around 9 per cent. The inclusion of Saudi women in the car market promises to be a profitable change, driven by the goals the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 which is aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing Saudi Arabia's economic dependence on oil. The social and economic success of this reform will depend on whether the resistance of conservatives to this major modernisation measure can be mitigated. A month before the driving ban was lifted, many women's rights activists were arrested, including those who advocate for women's right to drive. Further infographics can be found at Statista