The empowerment of women is not a luxury, but rather an inevitable necessity that reflects its impact on society, its economy and culture, and civilized societies thrive with it. Where the achievements of Saudi women have become a beacon to be followed, as they are an essential partner due to their competence, enlightening knowledge, and effective presence in the development and advancement of society. To contribute to advancing development in all fields in line with the aspirations of the leadership and the people. This prompted decision makers in Saudi Arabia to develop effective strategies to empower women and encourage them to join the public and private sectors. As a result of these trends, we see Saudi women assuming positions that were the preserve of men, whose scope is expanding day after day, with confidence in them and belief in their competence.
As a result of this, on the political and diplomatic front, HRH Princess Rima bint Bandar was appointed as the Kingdom's ambassador to the United States of America, to be the first woman to assume this task. On the academic level, Dr. Lilac Al-Safadi was appointed president of the Electronic University, as the first woman to head a Saudi university whose students include both males and females. The ladies, Dr. Fahda Al-Sheikh, Dr. Amal Fatani and Dr. Yousra Al-Jazaery, also had the honor of gaining the trust of the leadership to be the first women to hold the position of cultural attaches in the Kingdom's embassies abroad.
The appointment of Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin as the Kingdom's delegate to UNESCO came to enhance the leading role of Saudi women in international action in order to achieve sustainable social development and empower youth globally.
Saudi women also proved their worth to carry out security tasks, to be appointed to the ranks of the Saudi Royal Guard. Parliamentary work is one of the most recent and important areas in which Saudi women engage in work as investigative assistants.
It can be said that all fields open their widest doors in support of women, so that women are a major component and partner as long as they are qualified with the knowledge and experiences that enable them to enter the field of work efficiently and competently. The Kingdom during the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – may God protect them – strengthened the role of women by involving them in development projects, and contributing to the development of their capabilities to activate their participation effectively and positively socially and economically, in order to achieve the promising vision 2030, which among its goals and strategic plans is to support and strengthen women's participation. Women in the labor market, granting them their rights as citizens and partners in the development and prosperity of the country's future, and this is nothing but confirmation of what the Crown Prince – may God protect him – said: "I support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and half of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are women, so I support women." Women are living their golden age of equality and empowerment, just like men, with the laws and controls that both are subject to without discrimination between them.
In addition, the rights of women in Saudi Arabia have received great attention from the leadership – may God protect them – through the adoption of legislation approved by the teachings of Islam as a right for women first, and the systems have implemented them properly, such as dropping guardianship, preventing the marriage of minors, organizing the alimony fund for divorced women, and approving the anti-harassment system, On the social level, a center for domestic violence complaints was allocated, the Council for Family Affairs was established, and she was allowed to practice commercial work, and many legislations that protected her dignity and fairness protected and supported her. Thus, all opportunities are prepared for women to be a major engine in development, so there is no longer any reason to prevent them from participating in achieving this.
Women in Saudi Arabia used to live in freedom and independence before the domination of the Awakening discourse, and what women live now is nothing but an inherent right that they were denied and suffered from with flimsy illusions that made them subject to marginalization and curtailment, and now, thanks to the vision of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman – may God protect him – things have returned to normal. In order to achieve the public interest at all levels; To participate in building the future of her country and achieving its hopes and aspirations with the support of the leadership and the determination to pioneer.
Faiza Muhammad Al-Subhi