by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Riyadh : The Saudi Interior Ministry has confirmed its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles in the kingdom, starting from June 24 after decades of a ban.
Assistant Minister of Interior for Operation Affairs General Saeed Al-Qahtani confirmed that all women capable of driving cars can do so, according to an Al Arabiya report on Monday.
He also said female drivers would be on par with males in facing penalties and fines in case of traffic violations.
“Those who will drive cars are our daughters, wives and sisters, and it’s our duty to remind them of rules and prevent any harm against them,” he said, adding that the decision to allow women to drive serves the country.
He highlighted that security checkpoints would be set up to deal with expected changes in traffic after the ban would be lifted, Xinhua news agency reported.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered in September 2017 to allow women to drive cars after decades of restricting driving only to male citizens and residents.
The order was one of the major steps Saudi Arabia has taken to change the society in general and promote the foundations for a strong economy in particular.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Saudi women go on a walking parade on March 8, 2018 in the coastal city of Jeddah on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
Riyadh : Over 2,500 Saudi women went on a walking parade on Thursday in the coastal city of Jeddah on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the first massive public appearance of Saudi women in the conservative Islamic society.
The parade, organised by Jeddah government, aims to promote the ideas of healthy lifestyle and environmental protection, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a bid to return his country to a “moderate Islam,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has taken measures to improve women’s rights of all aspects in the society.
The country announced its plan to allow women to drive from June this year and ride-hailing apps are getting prepared to hire female drivers.
“I’m excited about being able to drive in a few months. Women can take the wheel just like men,” said college student Aimena, who is taking driving lessons in Princess Nura University.
Furthermore, Saudi women were given permission in January to attend football matches and to start their own businesses without the consents of their male relatives.
Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor’s office said this month it would also begin recruiting women investigators for the first time.
The kingdom has also opened 140 positions for women at airports and border crossings, a historic move that the government said drew 107,000 female applicants.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business Ideas, Entrepreneurship, Muslim World, Women Entrepreneur
Riyadh : Saudi women will from now on be allowed to open their own businesses without the consents of their male relatives, media reports said on Sunday.
Besides the opening up society Saudi Arabia seeks to achieve, especially integration of women in different walks of life, the decision also comes to meet the requirements of the fast-growing private sector, Xinhua reported.
“Women can now launch their own businesses and benefit from (governmental) e-services without having to prove consent from a guardian,” the ministry of commerce and investment said on its website.
The change in policy is also a step forward away from the strict guardianship system imposed on women for decades.
Under Saudi Arabia’s guardianship system, women are required to present proof of permission from a male guardian — normally the husband, father or brother — to do any government paperwork, travel or enrol in classes.
Long dependent on crude production for economic revenue, Saudi Arabia is pushing to expand the country’s private sector, including an expansion of female employment under a reform plan for a post-oil era.
Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor’s office this month said it would also begin recruiting women investigators for the first time.
The kingdom has also opened 140 positions for women at airports and border crossings, a historic first that the government said drew 107,000 female applicants.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Dubai : Ride hailing applications in Saudi Arabia are preparing to hire Saudi female chauffeurs, months ahead of lifting a ban that prevents women from driving or owning driving licenses in the country, a CNN report said.
The ride hailing applications Uber and Careem recruited their first female drivers in Saudi Arabia, after the Kingdom announced plans to lift the ban on women driving by June 2018.
Female customers currently represent 80 per cent of Uber’s Saudi rider base and 70 per cent of business for its Dubai-based counterpart Careem, according to statistics shared with CNN by both companies.
The apps are a lifeline to women with no independent way to get around the Kingdom.
All drivers employed by the two firms are male — mostly Saudi nationals driving their privately-owned vehicles.
Following the ground-breaking royal decree that announced plans to lift the ban on women driving in September 2017, both companies have been preparing to hire their first female drivers.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Employment, Private Jobs
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Labor has decided to allow Saudi women to become chefs at hotels.
However, it would continue to ban them from working in these positions at furnished apartments because they are often exploited to work as receptionists or in other jobs, a local publication has reported.
Many Saudi women have become famous for preparing food, with several posting their creations on social networking sites such as Instagram and Facebook. Many have also started their own food production and delivery businesses.
One hotel owner said many hotels, especially five-star facilities, target foreign tourists. “Seventy five percent of visitors at these hotels are foreigners. Therefore, hotels prefer to hire foreign chefs for their experience in preparing international cuisine including local food. However, hotels in the Kingdom that prefer local food can benefit from the services of Saudi women,” he said.
Hotels have become accustomed to recruiting foreign chefs because of their experience in producing cuisine from nations across the world.
