Saudi women no longer need a residential address in Bahrain to learn how to drive.

The General Directorate of Traffic has scrapped the condition, driving instructors told the GDN.

They now only need a valid passport, an ID card containing a data chip, a photo and their Saudi address.

It opens the door for more Saudi women to learn how to drive in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, it closes a loophole that was reportedly allowing Bahrain-based middlemen to accept money in return for providing an address.

Some women were reportedly paying as much as BD150 in exchange for being registered at an address, which in turn allowed them to obtain a licence.

“I heard some people were taking advantage of the previously required residential address in Bahrain by offering Saudi women an address in exchange for money,” said veteran driving instructor Mohammed Jawad.

“This new decision will eliminate this behavior and allow them to come to Bahrain to learn.”

Mr Jawad, who has been an instructor since 1989, said Saudi women had been learning to drive on Bahrain’s roads for years.

However, he added the number had increased significantly following Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift a ban on female drivers in June.

A female driving instructor, Khulood Ahmed, said thousands of driving licence applications had been submitted.

“There’s massive demand from Saudi women and the only obstacle was the issue of residential address,” she told the GDN.

“In the summer they came in huge numbers, but since September started women with jobs normally take classes on weekends or in the afternoons.

“I believe that after the decision to scrap the need for a Bahraini residential address, demand will skyrocket.”

Meanwhile, she revealed some Saudi women were so keen to get their licence that they requested tuition for up to five hours a day.

“They were under the impression they could get four or five hours of training a day to complete their hours in a shorter period of time,” she stated.

“But legally we can’t give a student more than two hours a day – and they must finish 22 hours to enter an exam.”

The Makkah newspaper, in Saudi Arabia, claims a record number of Saudi women reported to the General Directorate of Traffic, in Isa Town, on Sunday and Monday to submit licence applications – taking advantage of their country’s National Day holiday.

However, that could not be verified yesterday.

But Fatima Abdullah, who has been an instructor since 2012, predicted the decision to scrap the address requirement would have a major impact.

“Thousands were applying even when there was the obstacle of the residential address,” she said.

“They were prepared to pay rent and come to train.

“Now, without the need for a residential address, the demand will be enormous.”

SOURCE : ALBILAD