Aziza Alyousef

Saudi Arabian women's rights activist who spearheaded the 2013 women driving campaign

Aziza Alyousef is a trailblazing Saudi feminist and human rights advocate known for her pivotal role in the 2013 Women2Drive campaign. Her courageous activism directly contributed to the 2018 lifting of the ban on women driving. As co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, she organized nationwide protests and used social media to galvanize international support.

Alyousef's documentary film detailing her arrest during a driving protest has been viewed over 10 million times globally. Despite facing imprisonment and harassment, she continued advocating for women's education rights, establishing the Women's Leadership Scholarship Fund in 2015. Her memoir 'Wheels of Change: Driving Freedom in Saudi Arabia' became a bestseller in the Middle East.

She was named TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2019 and currently leads the Gulf Women Empowerment Network. Her work exemplifies how grassroots activism can drive systemic change in restrictive societies, inspiring women across the MENA region to demand equal rights.