Yet another industry is opening up for females…
Barely a day goes by without Saudi Arabia announcing another reform that empowers the women of the kingdom, it seems.
First it was revealed women can secure driving licences from this year, then it was announced they’d be able to enter previously male-only stadiums.
Read:
Saudi Arabia hosts its first-ever female road race
Meet the maker behind Lindsay Lohan’s cool hijab cap
And now, women will be able to work as tour guides from this year.
Females will be able to secure licences from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in 2018, the director of the commission’s hospitality sector nationalisation confirmed this week.
Badr Al-Obaid advised hopefuls to check the SCTNH website for information about the regulations required, the Saudi Gazette reports.
The news follows an announcement that the kingdom’s first female tour guide, Maryam Al-Harbi, has been named the best in the country.
Al-Harbi was recognised by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, according to Arab News, which praised her efforts to make the kingdom more accessible for tourists.
It’s just the latest industry in the kingdom opening up to women, following recent news that the kingdom will now start hiring women for ‘soldier’ positions.
Saudi’s Public Prosecution Office also revealed last month it would start recruiting hiring as investigators for the first time ever.
Saudi women also don’t need the permission of a male guardian to start their own businesses, the kingdom’s Ministry of Commerce and Investment confirmed a few weeks ago.
Recent changes in Saudi have come as part of Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious post-oil economic plan which aims to make Saudi a more modern, tourist-friendly destination.
Last September, a royal decree revealed women will be able to secure driving licences from June 2018, with the news widely celebrated around the globe.
Read:
These super-cool floating boutiques are coming to Dubai
Prince William is coming to the Middle East on a landmark visit
As part of the initiative, the government also aims to increase the percentage of women in the nation’s workforce from 23 per cent to 28 per cent by 2020.
Additionally, more Saudi females have been appointed to top jobs, a royal directive allowed women to use certain government services without a male guardian’s consent, and recent approval was issued for the go-ahead of women’s gyms.
Images: Almoosa Specialist Hospital/Twitter
