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Manal Al Sharif: A Force for Change in Women’s Rights and Technology 

Today we shine a spotlight on Manal Al Sharif, a Saudi Arabian activist who has left an inspiring mark on the global movement for women’s rights. 

Renowned for her role in challenging the driving ban for women in Saudi Arabia, Manal’s influence extends beyond the road. She is also a cybersecurity expert, founder of Women2Hack Academy, and author of the memoir “Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening.” Her work continues to inspire people around the world, empowering women to take control of their own lives. 

Early Life: From Mecca to a Global Movement

Manal’s story begins in Mecca, where she was born in 1979 to a Saudi father and Libyan mother. Growing up in a conservative household, Manal encountered traditional restrictions which later evoked curiosity in her to dive deeper into gender equality and challenge the discrimination related to it.

“So the first rule for a woman is,” she explained in an interview with Brian Lamb, “her best place is her home, not her job, not education, not the mosque, not outside — it’s her home. So it is highly encouraged for us to stay home and if I ever want to leave the house, it should be for urgency, it should be for something, really, really important and I have to take the man’s permission to leave the house — my husband, my father.”

Graduating with a degree in computing and later specialising in cybersecurity, as Manal made her mark in the working life she became the first Saudi woman to work in one of male-dominated fields at the Saudi oil giant “Aramco”. Her early career gave her a new perspective on deeply rooted gender disparities in Saudi society and planted the seeds for her future activism.

Driving for Freedom: The Birth of the Women2Drive Campaign

In 2011, came Manal’s defining moment when she co-founded the “Women2Drive”campaign to challenge the Saudi ban on women driving—a restriction that symbolised the broader limitations on women’s rights in the region. 

She filmed herself driving in Al Khobar, a video that quickly went viral and turned Manal into an icon of women’s empowerment. 

“Driving is symbolic,” Manal explained in an interview with Céline Bacha.

“If a woman can go out and drive, she can do anything.”

Though she was arrested, imprisoned, and later released under strict conditions, her actions sparked an international movement that culminated in Saudi Arabia lifting the ban on women drivers in 2018. 

Her act of civil disobedience became a rallying cry, and the international attention around her case highlighted her courage and resolve.

“It is an amazing contradiction: a society that frowns on a woman going out without a man; that forces you to use separate entrances for universities, banks, restaurants, and mosques; that divides restaurants with partitions so that unrelated males and females cannot sit together; that same society expects you to get into a car with a man who is not your relative, with a man who is a complete stranger, by yourself and have him take you somewhere inside a locked car, alone.”

she reflected in her memoir.

Beyond Driving: A Lifelong Dedication to Human Rights

Manal’s activism goes far beyond the driving campaign. Following her release, she continued to advocate for women’s rights, challenging the male guardianship system, which prevents women from making basic decisions without a male guardian’s approval. She explained how the system evolved from a “convenience” for women to a compulsory restriction. “Gradually, I realised that the ideas I had embraced and defended blindly all my life represented a singular, and highly radical, point of view. I began to question everything” Manal shared. 

Her activism has also extended to support other marginalised groups. Manal initiated the #Faraj Twitter campaign to release women prisoners, including foreign domestic workers, detained due to small unpaid debts. She has spoken out against the discrimination against women within the judicial and social systems, emphasising the economic impact of side-lining women in the workforce: 

“No country can afford only having 11% of women in the workforce. Look at how much that is wasting! Most of these women are highly educated, but do not have jobs.”

Empowering Women in Tech: The Women2Hack Academy

Beyond her advocacy for social change, Manal has made strides in the tech world by founding the “Women2Hack” Academy. This initiative focuses on equipping women with cybersecurity skills, addressing the gender gap in the tech industry, and promoting ethical practices within cybersecurity. By creating opportunities for women to excel in a male-dominated field, the academy embodies Manal’s commitment to empowering women through skills and knowledge. Her work continues to inspire young women worldwide to pursue careers in tech and cybersecurity.

Global Recognition and Continued Activism

Manal’s work has garnered international acclaim, including recognition by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent. She has spoken at prestigious venues worldwide, from the United Nations to TED (A Saudi woman who dared to drive), bringing her story of resilience to diverse audiences. Despite the personal and professional setbacks she has faced—including restrictions on her travel and separation from her eldest son due to her activism—she continues to push for reform.

Manal’s fight for equality is not only about breaking physical barriers but also about dismantling the mentalities that have long held women back. Her efforts to foster women’s visibility and participation in public life are reshaping societal attitudes.

Today, Manal resides in Sydney, Australia, where she continues her advocacy work. Her legacy, both in her home country and beyond, serves as a reminder of the power of courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication to change. Her journey shows us that one person can indeed inspire a movement and that the path to equality is driven by those brave enough to challenge the status quo.

Manal Al Sharif’s Lasting Impact

Manal Al Sharif’s story is more than a personal narrative; it’s a powerful testament to the change that one person’s courage can spark. Whether through her driving campaign, the Women2Hack Academy, or her advocacy on the global stage, Manal has paved the way for a new generation of empowered Saudi women. As she so eloquently put it,

“We show that we are able, we are capable of driving our own life and being in the driver’s seat of our own destiny by doing this act of civil disobedience”

Manal’s journey continues to inspire and empower, reminding us that the road to equality is one we all share—and one that must be driven by courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

– Written by Elodie Whyte for Spring ACT