They are often not allowed access to them (Not denied access in any legal sense, but their families will “look after” the documents making it hard to gain access to such documents). But if it’s the case of a foreign national returning home their home country can provide emergency travel documentation and help see the person thought passport control.
But if they are not a foreign national, they have little options. They will often (but not always) try and contact the legal guardian of the woman (if they are not already present, but as you said without the app. I presume they are also travelling without their “legal guardian”) and return the women to their family if they are instructed to do so by them.
This is not a 'what about chocolate or seafood' but a general frustration I have with people today. They (and this is not directed at you) are grossly misinformed on the state of the world, even though the information is more readily available than ever before. They protest completely inane stuff like it's the end of the world, while completely ignoring the tremendous human rights abuses throughout the world that continue to this very day. If people shined a light on these 24/7 it's possible that something could happen. Even back to Saudi Arabia, not only is there their treatment of women but they still literally crucify people, still literally execute people for "witchcraft and sorcery", and much more. These stories do receive one off coverage, but nothing compared to e.g. a scientist who wore a shirt with some scantily clad girls. Makes all of 'social media justice' look like little more than a bunch of useful idiots. [2]
[1] - https://www.apnews.com/571f1acc466f4f89866d31ae094f1601
[1] - https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/Chil...
[2] - https://web.archive.org/web/20190209104955/https://www.mysan...
This is a country that simply should not exist.
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Saudi-Arabia/Articles/Vis...