Manal al-Sharif

Saudi Arabian women's rights activist who challenged driving ban and advanced gender equality

Manal al-Sharif is a Saudi Arabian activist and computer scientist best known for her pivotal role in the 2011 'Women2Drive' campaign that successfully challenged the kingdom's ban on women driving. As a software engineer by profession, she became an outspoken advocate for women's rights in a society where systemic gender restrictions were deeply entrenched. Her courageous video of herself driving in 2011, shared widely on social media, became a global symbol of Saudi women's struggle for basic freedoms. This campaign ultimately contributed to the historic 2018 decision allowing women to legally obtain driver's licenses. Beyond the driving issue, she has been a vocal advocate for broader societal reforms, co-founding the Women2Drive movement and speaking internationally about gender equality. Al-Sharif's work highlights the power of grassroots activism in authoritarian contexts, and she remains a key figure in the ongoing push for social progress in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East.

Her advocacy extends to technology and cybersecurity, where she serves as a board member of the Global Cyber Alliance. Al-Sharif has also written extensively on the intersection of technology and human rights, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in digital innovation. Despite facing significant backlash and surveillance from authorities, her unwavering commitment to justice has inspired countless women across the region to demand their rights. Her story is chronicled in the documentary film 'The Red Belt' (2020), which explores gender dynamics in Saudi society.