Today, in association with rapid social and economic changes, there is an increasing level of demand for distance and online learning programs. This study will focus on identifying the main motivational factors for choosing a web-based distance-learning program. Moreover, it will investigate how these factors relate to age, gender, marital status and parenthood. The results are based on a questionnaire, which was conducted amongst students enrolled in the distance-learning programs provided by the E-learning and Distance Education Deanship at Al-Imam Mohammad bin Saud University during the autumn semester of 2013. In addition to their background characteristics, the survey aimed to determine students' motives for undertaking distance learning.