For Saudi women, one of the biggest issues with not being able to drive wasn’t just the lack of independence, it was the sheer expense and inconvenience of having to pay for chauffeurs or waiting for a male guardian (typically a relative) to drive them to work, school or social events.

Reema al-Mahlasi, 30, is a medical technologist who lives with her parents and four sisters in Riyadh. “Me, my mum and sisters all work in different parts of the city,” she explains. “We had to have three drivers to manage arriving and leaving on time, which was a financial burden. Almost everything needed prior planning with the family, and there was no chance of doing anything spontaneous. Emotionally, it was frustrating because so much basic stuff couldn’t be done easily.”

Al-Mahlasi was one of the first women to apply for training in a driving school, and has already passed her test. There are several driving schools catering for women in the country now, with hundreds believed to have already passed. Al-Mahlasi is now waiting for 24 June to officially have her licence. “I am so, so excited,” she says. “When they announced they’d lifted the ban, my sisters and I were jumping and crying with joy. It was historic.

“When I told my parents I was going to have the lessons, they were supportive, but also hesitant. They were worried I could be in danger from people who are against women driving.” Potential violence against the new wave of female drivers is a huge concern. And it’s not just men who are hostile to women driving – there are also many more conservative women who are averse to the move. The government has assured women that anyone who assaults a female driver will be punished under a new harassment law. But many women are still scared to get behind the wheel.

Women can drive in Saudia Arabia, but the feminist fight isn’t over