Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves have created immense wealth, but the nation’s riches have led to little progress on the human rights front.
Did you know Gulf kingdom is the only country in the world that bans women from driving? An estimated 800,000 foreign chauffeurs currently ferry Saudi women around. Thankfully, this is about to change. King Salman issued an historic royal decree on Sept. 26th, reversing the discriminatory law. The change is expected to go into effect in June 2018.
You want a statement here is one: "Saudi Arabia will never be the same again. The rain begins with a single drop" #Women2Drive ❤️
— منال مسعود الشريف (@manal_alsharif) September 26, 2017
In related “Westernization” news, Coca-Cola plans to open a $100 million bottling plant in Saudi Arabia in 2019. To celebrate freedom and the company’s inroads into another important market, the Atlanta-based soft drinks company released the following “feel good” commercial.
Will the American soda provider also help to usher in peace, prosperity and progressive values in Saudi Arabia? That’s hard to say. Saudi Arabia charged Iran with an “Act of War” today, so all bets are off.