Saudi Arabia’s progress in empowering women lauded
SAUDI businesswoman Hind AlZahid recently became the first woman to be appointed executive director of the country’s Dammam Airport.
That is a landmark achievement since Saudi Arabia has a controversial track record when it comes to women’s rights.
The kingdom is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive, while divorce codes and male guardianship continue to be stark reminders of inequality.
Indeed, women in the Arab region have traditionally faced a plethora of challenges, including exclusion from access to economic opportunities, employment and social protection, limited representation, as well as the inability to actively and effectively voice their concerns and needs.
Even though Arab women have achieved high levels of education, this has not translated into economic outcomes.
The region maintains the lowest rate of female economic participation in the world at 26 per cent relative to a global average of 56 per cent. Labour force par- ticipation rates for men, though, average 76 per cent in the region, just above the global average of 74 per cent.
But a recent royal decree from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud suggests the patriarchal system’s days are numbered in the kingdom.
In February, three Saudi women were designated to top financial posts in the country. Sarah Al Suhaimi was appointed the head of Tadawul (the Saudi stock exchange), the first woman to chair the country’s bourse.
Rania Mahmoud Nashar was named the chief executive officer of Samba Financial Group, one of the region’s largest and acclaimed financial groups.
And, Latifa Al-Sabhan was appointed the chief financial officer of Arab National Bank, one of the top 10 largest banks in the Middle East.
Increasing women’s participation in business and education is a key part of the Vision 2030 plan championed by the then deputy crown prince (now Crown Prince) Mohammed bin Salman.
It is certainly a positive step forward for Saudi women to increasingly serve in powerful government roles and take the lead in businesses.
Let’s hope that these winds of change will inspire other countries in the region and developing world to designate women to crucial ministerial, judicial and academic positions, and as captains of industry, in recognition of their rightful place in society.