Wusool
An HRDF transportation subsidy programme that supports employed Saudi women by covering a portion of their daily commuting costs to work.
Definition
Wusool (Arabic for “arrival” or “access”) is a Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) programme that subsidizes transportation costs for employed Saudi women and persons with disabilities, removing a key barrier to workforce participation.
Overview
Launched by HRDF, Wusool addresses a practical barrier to female employment in Saudi Arabia: the cost and logistics of daily commuting. Before the lifting of the female driving ban in 2018, Saudi women were entirely dependent on male relatives, private drivers, or ride-hailing services to reach their workplaces. Even after the driving ban was lifted, many Saudi women — particularly in lower-income brackets — face significant transportation costs relative to their earnings.
Wusool partners with ride-hailing services to provide subsidized trips for eligible beneficiaries, covering up to 80 percent of commuting costs within defined limits. The programme uses digital platforms for registration, trip tracking, and payment processing, making it efficient to administer and transparent to monitor.
The programme has been credited with enabling tens of thousands of Saudi women to accept and retain private-sector employment that would otherwise be financially unviable due to commuting costs. Wusool operates alongside Qurrah (childcare support) as part of HRDF’s suite of programmes specifically designed to increase female labour force participation.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) |
| Target Group | Employed Saudi women and persons with disabilities |
| Subsidy | Up to 80% of commuting costs |
| Mechanism | Partnerships with ride-hailing services |
| Platform | Digital registration and trip management |
| Companion Programme | Qurrah (childcare subsidy) |
Role in Vision 2030
Wusool directly supports Vision 2030’s target of increasing female labour force participation, which has risen dramatically from approximately 17 percent in 2016 to over 30 percent. By removing transportation cost as a barrier, the programme enables women — particularly those in entry-level and mid-level positions — to participate in the workforce and contribute to household income.
The programme exemplifies Vision 2030’s approach of identifying and systematically removing practical barriers to employment, combining policy reform (lifting the driving ban) with programmatic support (transportation subsidies) to achieve measurable outcomes.