In a milestone for the country’s transport sector, Azerbaijan’s first female taxi drivers have officially started work – marking a significant step toward gender inclusion in public transportation.
According to the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, 169 women have so far applied to become licensed taxi drivers, successfully passing the required exams and receiving their official certificates.
Of these, 111 women are already on the road, working as certified taxi drivers in different regions of the country.
The applicants include 8 women aged 20–30, 78 women aged 30-50, and 25 women over 50. The youngest female driver is 23, while the oldest is 71 – a striking age range that reflects both courage and curiosity about the profession.
Officials say that the initiative is part of a wider effort to encourage women’s participation in the transport workforce, and soon, the country will also see its first female bus drivers take the wheel.
The candidates underwent both theoretical and practical training, designed to ensure safety, service quality, and confidence behind the wheel. The move is being praised as a symbol of social progress, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes in one of Azerbaijan’s most male-dominated professions.
