JEDDAH: Women are not required to obtain consent from their guardians for services provided to them, “unless there is a legal basis for this request in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Shariah,” according to a royal degree issued by King Salman and reported by Okaz local daily on Thursday.
“This came in a royal directive to all concerned government agencies, after approval of proposals raised by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to resolve issues related to human rights,” according to the royal decree.
In a statement on their website confirming Okaz report, Human Rights Commission President Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban said he welcomed the gesture saying that it reflects King Salman’s care of his people and embodies his concern to simplify procedures for women who constitute half of Saudi society and who are a major partner in the development of the society.
Many advocates of the empowerment of Saudi women hailed the announcement, as needing a male guardian’s consent can pose significant obstacle for women.
“This (male guardianship) has always been an obstacle to women and demeaning because unfortunately some guardians abused their authority over women and took advantage,” Maha Akeel, director of the public information and communication for the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), told Arab News.
It finally recognizes the right of a woman “to be her own guardian and take care of her official matters… without the need for the approval of the guardian,” she added.
According to the Human Rights Commission, the Supreme Court has demanded concerned agencies to review procedures in force, Okaz reported.
It also demanded to list all procedures that require the approval of the woman’s guardian to complete a service and to provide an explanation of their statutory basis for the service within three months of the order’s issuance date.
“This means male guardianship has been lifted,” Suhaila Zain Al-Abideen, senior member at the Saudi-based National Society for Human Rights told Arab News. She added it means “the legislations that demand a male guardian have been amended.”
She added that she believes the services would include women’s ability to independently represent themselves in court as well as to issue and renew passports and to travel abroad without needing a guardian’s permit.
“Shariah law does not necessitate male guardianship of women because we are perfectly competent,” Al-Abideen said.
The new order is not clear yet and does not state under what circumstances a woman should or should not obtain the consent of her guardian for services provided to her, said Saudi writer and women rights advocate Abdullah Al-Alami.
Al-Alami told Arab News that he believes the law was introduced “to satisfy the Human Rights Commission, in relation to the international conventions to which the Kingdom has acceded.”
On April 19, United Nations (UN) member states elected Saudi Arabia to serve on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which is dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
“We’ve come a long way,” said Lina Almaeena, Shoura Council member. She said the move is in line with Saudi Vision 2030 to increase the number of women in the workforce and reduce unemployment.
“I think it’s a fantastic step,” Almaeena said. “Everyday we hear of an improvement. A lot of things are changing. Not only at a women’s level but at so many levels.”
Almaeena told Arab News she is sure this will include “work permit,” pointing to the present law that requires women to get a consent from their guardians to work.
The right to drive has not yet been granted to women in Saudi Arabia, although Al-Abideen said she believes it is “coming up next.”
Yet, as Al-Alami noted, the order demanded the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to provide means of transportation for women workers in accordance with the provisions of the labor law.
“In other words, no news yet on women driving, although I think it would be approved soon,” Al-Alami said, adding that there is still a need to resolve problems with respect to women’s rights.
The Shoura Council is scheduled May 9 to discuss and consider a recommendation that demands the Interior Ministry support women driving.
The OIC’s Akeel said she looks forward to more decisions for empowering women. She commended that “the decision included educating and raising women’s awareness of their rights.”
In the past five years, Saudi Arabia has been appointing more women in decision-making positions. In 2011, the late King Abdullah gave women the right to join the Shoura Council and the right to run and vote in the municipal elections, which came a reality in 2015.
In 2013, women were appointed to the Shoura Council for the first time and 30 had become members. Today, the representation of Saudi women on the Shoura Council stands at 20 percent.
Three months ago, three women — Sarah Al-Suhaimi, Rania Nashar and Latifa Al-Shabhan — were appointed in the male-dominant financial sector to the positions of the chair of the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, CEO of Samba Financial Group and chief financial officer of Arab National Bank (ANB), respectively.
Increasing the participation of women in the workforce from 22 percent to 30 percent is one of the main goals in Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi women no longer need guardians’ consent to receive services
Saudi women no longer need guardians’ consent to receive services
All is rosy in Taif as fans flock to flower festival
- Taif’s annual show features a floral carpet of over million flowers
- Farmers, vendors optimistic about increase in sales at the event
JEDDAH: Visitors are flocking to the 19th Taif Rose Festival at Al-Raddaf Park where the flowers are in full bloom, highlighting the region’s rich floral heritage.
The festival, themed “Qetaf” meaning “Picking Time,” coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. The organizers include the Taif Rose Cooperative Society and Taif Municipality.
There has been an impressive turnout of Taif residents and domestic and international tourists. The exhibitors — mostly farmers and vendors — are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.
Abdullah Altwairqi, a local farmer and festival participant, said: “Participating in the Taif Rose Festival has become a tradition for me. The atmosphere improves each year, and the revenue and exposure we receive from visitors make it worthwhile.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Exhibitors at the Taif Rose Festival are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.
• The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.
• It covers 5,206 square meters and was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.
At his booth, Altwairqi showcased various flowers and fruit, including Taif roses, peaches, prickly pears, figs, mulberries, grapes, blackberries, pomegranates, as well as aromatic plants.
Altwairqi urged people to visit the Rose Flavor cafe where they can savor hot and cold beverages infused with the flavor of Taif roses and other aromatic flowers including lavender, which is also abundant in the region.
The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park left visitors awestruck. Covering 5,206 square meters, it was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.
Faiz Al-Thibaiti, director-general of media and corporate communication at Taif Municipality, told Arab News: “The flower carpet was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.”
He said the carpet has ensured the event has become “one of the most important tourism festivals in the Kingdom, attracting thousands of visitors and tourists from various regions of the country.”
NUMBER
70k
The rose-picking season in Taif starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.
The decorations adorning the flower carpet draw inspiration from the intricate designs found on the walls and facades of Taif’s ancient structures, including Al-Kaki Palace in Al-Salama and King Saud Palace.
Al-Thibaiti added: “Preparations for the festival started early, with the Taif Rose Cooperative Society detailing participation criteria to highlight Taif roses, including their cultivation, harvesting, and distillation into fine perfumes. This adds to Taif’s unique tourist appeal. The festival provides a platform for producers, experts, and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and boost this important sector.”
Among the highlights are the rose and flower path, product stalls, goods market, government booths, and the agricultural nursery.
Interactive fountain shows accompanied by national tunes were also among the attractions, with a crossing to the upper pedestrian bridge from where visitors can view the massive flower carpet.
Artwork, flower arrangements, and hanging floral baskets scattered throughout the park added to the flair of the event.
Al-Thibaiti said: “The significant turnout at the current festival comes amid increasing rose production year after year, indicating the success of this agricultural sector in achieving high revenues while continuing to promote the Taif rose product.”
Taifrosethon
The five-day Taifrosethon began on May 7, which is being held to encourage entrepreneurship in the region with technological solutions to enrich the industry.
The event includes various skills training and technical workshops covering trade, cultural heritage, and tourism.
The top-three winners will receive $2,666, $1,866 and $1,333 respectively. Participants are required to enter as teams, each with three to five members.
Taif’s roses
The Taif province produces more than 200 million roses each season. According to the local chamber of industry, each tree produces an average of 250 roses daily throughout the harvest season, which lasts for about 45 days.
The rose-picking season starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.
Taif roses feature an exquisite, sweet fragrance and vibrant pink hues on delicate petals, and are a hallmark of the region’s natural beauty.
Cultivated in the high-altitude climate of Taif, these roses thrive in the cool temperatures and fertile soil of the region.
They are meticulously harvested by hand to preserve their quality, with the petals carefully collected for various purposes.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco receives Saudi Arabia minister of state Prince Turki
CASABLANCA: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI received Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, in Casablanca on Tuesday.
During his meeting with King Mohammed, Prince Turki conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Turki also delivered a letter to King Mohammed.
King Mohammed thanked the Saudi minister for the letter and “noted the distinguished relations that bind the two brotherly countries and peoples in all fields,” Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli settlers’ attack on Jordan’s aid convoy heading to Gaza
- Kingdom calls on international community to take all necessary measures to hold Israel accountable for its violations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on a Jordanian humanitarian aid convoy that was heading to the besieged Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the second incident of its kind in less than a week.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that said “the repetition of these attacks is a result of the failure of the Israeli occupation forces to carry out their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and is considered systematic complicity in preventing the necessary humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip.”
The Kingdom called on the international community to take all necessary measures to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
It also urged it to assume its responsibility to protect and secure the crossing of aid convoys, and to ensure their arrival into the Palestinian enclave to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis there, the ministry statement added.
Jordan also condemned the attack and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah said: “Israel is responsible for the settler attack on the aid convoys.”
Qudah stressed that the Israeli government’s failure to stop the attacks was a violation of its legal obligations, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Qudah added that the aid convoy, run by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, was attacked by Israeli settlers on its way to the Beit Hanoun Crossing, also known as the Erez Crossing, in northern Gaza, adding that “its cargo was tampered with.”
He said that the convoy later managed to continue its journey despite the attack and reached its destination in war-ravaged Gaza.
Expos begin in Riyadh, shine light on future of entertainment in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo and the Saudi Light and Sound Expo offer glimpse of what is to come in sector and opportunities that will be created, expert says
- Expo organizer Sarkis Kahwajian says: ‘This year is our most diverse and dynamic agenda yet,’ exhibitors are ‘showcasing how entertainment is evolving in the Kingdom’
RIYADH: The Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo and the Saudi Light and Sound Expo began in Riyadh on Tuesday. The events aim to shine a light on the future of the entertainment industry in the Kingdom, showcase the latest products and technologies, and provide a forum for those at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector in the country.
Spanning three days of creativity, interactive experiences and technological innovations, the expos will offer a glimpse what is to come in the entertainment sector and the opportunities this will create, Eihab Abourokbah, the CEO of the Saudi Entertainment Academy, told Arab News.
The events, which continue until Thursday at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center, opened to the public, including local and international experts, public-sector authorities, and industry professionals, following an inauguration by Mohannad Al-Abbad, chief investment and business development officer at the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority. This was followed by a VIP walk-through by a delegation that included GEA representatives, as the event got underway with exhibitors and a series of panel discussions and presentations.
Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president of DMG Events and the organizer of the expos, said: “As we raise the curtain on both the SEA Expo and the SLS Expo, our aim is that this year’s shows leave a deep-rooted mark on the entertainment industry in the region.
“This year is our most diverse and dynamic agenda yet. It is here, at the intersection of creativity and technology, that our list of impressive exhibitors are revealing cutting-edge products and showcasing how entertainment is evolving in the Kingdom.”
DMG said two historic deals between major players in the entertainment industry will be finalized on the sidelines of the expos to help enhance, grow and diversify the sector.
Invest Saudi, under the auspices Ministry of Investment, will sign an agreement with Nowaar Entertainment, a company in Riyadh that focuses on experience-based events, content development and investment, to help develop the live-events industry in the Kingdom.
And Dallah Al-Baraka, a multinational corporation based in Jeddah with a broad-based investment portfolio, will sign a partnership agreement with Europa-Park, a theme park in Germany with 18 themed zones and 100 rides. The aim of the collaboration is to provide consultancy services, professional training programs, and equipment sales to help support growth in the sector in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
While exhibitors from the entertainment and leisure industry around the world, including entertainment designers, consultants, contractors, mega-project developers, entrepreneurs and investors, showcase their latest products and services at the SEA Expo, their counterparts in the Kingdom, which has embarked on an entertainment renaissance in the past few years, will also unveil their latest entertainment and leisure offerings.
Vivien Exartier, executive director of Saudi Entertainment Academy, told Arab News: “This expo is important for us because it shows our footprint, it shows that we are the only institution equipped and capable of training young Saudis under the umbrella of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Human Resources Development Fund, and the GEA.”
The academy, described as the first of its kind in the Kingdom and supported by the GEA, offers young Saudis the chance to enroll in specialized courses and earn academic diplomas with the aim of opening up employment opportunities to them in the rapidly developing entertainment sector in the Kingdom.
Expert speakers at the SEA Expo will include officials from a wide range of public- and private-sector organizations, including Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Entertainment Ventures, Cruise Saudi, the Saudi Ministry of Investment, and the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Meanwhile, the SLS Expo will give visitors the chance to take a deep dive into specialist topics and technologies such as professional lighting and sound, live event management, stage technology and trussing, and virtual, augmented and mixed reality.
As the entertainment industry in the Kingdom continues to evolve rapidly, high-profile events and attractions such as operas, festivals, theme parks and cinema are raising the stakes in the country. This is creating growing demand for quality professional lighting, sound and other events-related technologies, which exhibitors at SLS Expo will hope to tap into by showing how they can provide equipment and services to act as a catalyst for the development of live events in the Kingdom.
Visitors will also have the chance to hear from industry leaders at the forefront of efforts to revolutionize the sector in the Kingdom. One of the most topical discussions during the event will be about ways to help empower and hone the skills of young Saudi talent by bridging skills gaps in the entertainment industry.
“We want summit delegates to walk away with a strategic understanding of how to implement Saudization strategies within their organizations, while also seeing the pivotal role graduate programs play in fostering growth in local talent,” said Expo organizer Kahwajian.
AlUla Academy aims to be hub for tourism vocational training in Saudi Arabia and beyond
- Hotel.School chosen as global partner for hospitality training and the academy will welcome its first group of students in early July
ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla on Tuesday officially launched AlUla Academy, described as a pioneering initiative that aims to be a beacon across the region for excellence in vocational training in the tourism sector.
It will serve as a global hub, officials said, for workers directly involved in crafting memorable experiences for diverse groups of visitors to AlUla from around the globe.
Hotel.School has been chosen as the academy’s global partner for hospitality training, and the collaboration will begin with an inaugural digital training program for the first group of students in early July. Subsequent programs will be available through the academy’s website.
Authorities in the Kingdom are carefully developing historic AlUla, an ancient oasis in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, as a global tourist destination distinguished by its 7,000-year-plus history, spanning several civilizations.
It encompasses four primary heritage sites and a wide selection of visitor experiences which, the Royal Commission said, offer tourists the chance to immerse themselves in the region’s rich heritage and culture, take advantage of its wellness offerings, bask in the beauty of nature, indulge in the arts, and embark on and voyage of discovery.
The establishment of the academy therefore stands as a pioneering endeavor within the field of tourism, it added, and a cornerstone of efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development and diversification plan, one of the aims of which is to create 1.3 million jobs for Saudi citizens.
Philip Jones, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s chief tourism officer, said: “Learning centers such as AlUla Academy play a pivotal role in creating job opportunities while upholding excellence in visitor experiences to international standards, all while maintaining an authentic Saudi essence.
“Both physically and digitally, AlUla Academy will expedite the training process, enhancing the quality and efficiency of professional skill development, thereby advancing the tourism sector’s goals in the Kingdom.”
The guests at the launch ceremony on Tuesday included Anita Mendiratta, special advisor to the UN secretary-general at the UN World Tourism Organization. Also a member of the Royal Commission’s advisory board between 2017 and 2023, and one of the key figures behind the development of the academy, she emphasized the organization’s steadfast commitment and dedication to the enhancement of visitor experiences through the development of local skills.
“The key to AlUla’s development lies in embracing authenticity and prioritizing community engagement,” Mendiratta said.
“The Royal Commission for AlUla understands that reaching tangible milestones necessitates investing in skill development, providing services with international standards, yet infusing them with the distinct essence of AlUla that echoes its environment, the culture of its people, and their profound history.”
Hotel.School was carefully chosen as a global partner for AlUla Academy, the commission said, following a rigorous selection process to identify the most suitable collaborator to bolster its endeavors and help achieve its objectives. To that end, it will offer intelligent educational solutions and collaborate with developers of cutting-edge technologies to provide a diverse array of online-learning experiences, officials said. Further information about courses, registration procedures and criteria for the selection of students will be available soon.
Adnan Sawadi, the acting director of Hotel.School, said the institution is committed to supporting the commission in its mission to achieve excellence in vocational training across AlUla, the Kingdom and the wider region.
“At Hotel.School, we recognize that the vitality of the hospitality sector is its people, and we take pride in our pivotal role in nurturing and developing the skills essential to fortifying AlUla’s position as a global tourism and hospitality hub,” he said.
“Our commitment extends to fostering an educational environment that resonates with the region’s rich heritage, amplifying its cultural significance on the global stage.”
AlUla has received significant acclaim and been described as a beacon of success in the field of tourism development and the enhancement of local skills, the commission said. It attracted 263,000 visitors in 2023 alone and consistently surpasses the targets set for it, officials said, increasingly bringing it to the attention of leading event organizers, investors, development partners, airlines and the international media.
