With high unemployment among Saudis, many young men operate unlicensed taxis, picking up passengers from airports, bus stations and other locations where people usually come to find transport to travel between cities.

What these men do is illegal. They, however, feel their chosen profession is legal, saying they are only trying to earn honest livelihoods.

Naser Al-Saadi, a 25-year-old Saudi man who uses his personal car as a taxi, said he has no choice but to earn his living in such a way. Al-Saadi said he is a medical graduate, but unable to find a job.

“I tried finding a job using my qualifications but couldn’t find one. I have six brothers and need to support them, especially since my father is retired. This was the only job I could find,” he said.

“I know it is against the law and I realize that if I am arrested then my car will be seized. The traffic police hand out steep fines of around SR300, which could go up to SR900 on failure to pay,” he added.

Al-Saadi said life is difficult and that expenses are on the rise everywhere. “What I earn barely covers my brothers’ school expenses. There is no steady income. I go to the airport searching for customers and sometimes, on a good day, earn SR100. However, on a normal day I only earn around SR50,” he said.

“The Traffic Department should make what we do legal because it is the only way we can earn a living,” he added.

Maher Al-Mutairi is a 24-year-old Saudi high school graduate who has been looking for a job for two years. He applied for a military job but was rejected and so turned to driving an unlicensed taxi.

“The job is exhausting. I travel across the Kingdom visiting Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Taif. I earn SR150 per passenger but the money is mainly spent fixing my car or paying traffic fines,” he said.

He agreed with Al-Saadi, saying the money he earns is not regular. “It can go up one day and down the next. I have accumulated traffic fines that exceed SR4,000 and I’ve no idea how I’m going to pay them,” he said.

Issa Al-Mutairi is in no different situation to Al-Mutairi. “I’ve got fines of SR7,000 and have no idea how I’m going to pay them. I’m in a dire situation. I wanted to join a program to buy a proper taxi but couldn’t join because of the traffic fines I need to pay. How can I pay them fines if I can’t even meet my daily living expenses?” he said.

Saud Al-Akmali, 26, said traffic officials issue SR300 fines for operating illegal taxis. “If you fail to pay the fine on time then this could increase up to SR600,” he said.

“If you ask me, they should allow us to operate between cities. They should make this legal. It is better than us roaming the streets and being involved in crimes. We’re unemployed and have nothing else to do. Believe it or not, I need to pay SR16,000 in fines and have no idea how I’m going to pay,” he added.

Col. Muhammad Al-Qahtani, head of the Traffic Department in Jeddah, said traffic officials are strict in implementing the law. “The Traffic Department has issued around 10,000 fines within the last six months; 6,000 were given to Saudis and the rest to non-Saudis,” he added.