Saudi Arabia is empowering its women and how! Close on the heels of appointing women guards at Mecca and Medina, about 600 women have been trained by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and employed at these mosques.
The Women’s Development Affairs Agency, led by Al-Anoud Al-Aboud, deputy president for women’s development affairs, has reportedly given jobs to 310 of these women, while 200 work at the Agency for Women’s Scientific, Intellectual and Guidance Affairs, led by Noura Al-Thuwaibi. The remaining, as per media reports, are employed at the Agency for Women’s Administrative and Service Affairs, under Kamelia Al-Daadi, its leader.
Thanks to the vision of the Saudi Crown Prince, the ‘Vision 2030’ plans for the country are being executed on a war footing, with many opportunities for women opening up.
For the first time ever, women soldiers were appointed as guards in Mecca and Medina earlier this year. Donning military uniforms, these women will be responsible for monitoring the security at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. The Defence Ministry of the country had allowed both men and women to apply for various roles in the military earlier in 2021. Many women have also landed jobs as facilitators, to help women pilgrims and visitors to the Khana-e-Kaaba at Mecca.
In another first, women participated in the annual Saudi National Day military parade in Riyadh and Jeddah on September 23. Women soldiers of various ranks took part in the march that marked the 91st National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
