Samba Financial Group is one such institution that has developed male and female banking in its Riyadh and
major cities in the country. Although this has earned the bank admiration among the Muslim society as a bank
that seeks to uphold Islamic teachings, it comes at an extra cost that would have been used for other development
purposes (Cordesman, 2003). The bank has to establish two banking halls in these major cities in an attempt to
attract both male and female customers. Although this is working in the local economy, Robertson (2005) says
that the bank may risk developing a negative image in the international society. Saudi Arabia has been criticized
for upholding conservative laws towards women. For instance, Krivenko (2009) notes that women of this
country were not permitted to drive cars just because they were women. They could also travel abroad only after
being granted permission from their mahrams. Their husbands could deny them the permission at will. Some
were even forced to ask the permission from their sons in case they did not have husbands, because the society
considered them as people who lacked hikmat (Rubin, 2005).