mentalist

If this plan is ever implemented, I genuinely fear for the safety of expats in Saudi Arabia.
http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/28-...230220540.html

OleJanx

Some of the comments say it all.

Beaverstate

what next... maids and janitors?

Boomhauer

Why do they call it a Limo service when they also mention it as Taxi service

lostinthedust

Hilarious! As if I, or any Saudi female for that matter, will get in a car with a shabab.
Just another scheme to pay them to stay at home.

Boomhauer

Is there a real danger of rape,molestation, kidnappin, abuse? Saudi females can't go anywhere without a close male relative right?

lostinthedust

There is a very real danger of being driven not where you want to go. Also they will not be able to make change for your fare. The typical shabab is more irritating than dangerous but it gets tiring very quickly.
I know many Saudi females who travel to work, shopping, visiting etc without being escorted by their mahram.

The Dean

There could be an upside to the plan............ they might actually start to regulate the sector.

This might include a scheme to ensure the drivers are properly trained (London-'knowledge'-style, etc), meters to be compulsory (when I was last in Riyadh, it was rare to find a driver who would run the meter at all, especially on the long drive in from the airport), a proper complaints procedure, etc, etc.

On the latter point, Dubai in my experience is exemplary (phone hotline, complaint number issued, e-mail follow-up, etc - Deanetta's complaint about an abusive driver recently has led to senior police involvement).