RIYADH: Saudi women have proved capable to enter the labor market alongside men and the country is keen to take all measures to empower them, said Princess Reema bint Bandar.
The deputy president of Saudi Arabia’s Women’s Sports Authority was speaking at a news conference on the role of Saudi women under the Vision 2030 reform plans.
“There has been a transformation regarding the role Saudi women can play in the labor force,” said Princess Reema, who is also vice president of the Saudi General Authority for Sports Planning and Development.
“It is important to understand that the slogan of sports for all, envisioned by Vision 2030, ensures opportunities for all in a manner that achieves balance and impartiality between the sexes, especially in the field of sports,” the princess added.
Referring to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, the princess said it does not only focus on progress in doing business.
It also envisages a national roadmap for Saudi Arabia showing where it wants to be in the future in regard to cultural, social, economic and political aspects, among others.
“We do not change our laws and regulation to appease the outside world. We take necessary steps as per our own interests,” she said.
She added that change is not an option, but a “commitment to our future generations. It is a matter of where we want to be in the future. And we want to be in a better (place) than the one we are standing in right now.”
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of US President Donald Trump, on Sunday praised Saudi women’s leadership and achievements.
She is part of the US delegation that accompanied the US president on his visit to Saudi Arabia.
“I met with Saudi Arabian women leaders and learned directly of their accomplishments, challenges & vision for the future,” Ivanka Trump tweeted on Sunday.
Princess Reema sees ‘transformation’ in Saudi women’s role in labor market
Princess Reema sees ‘transformation’ in Saudi women’s role in labor market
‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah
LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.
Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.
The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.
Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.
“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.
Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.
“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.
“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”
Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”
He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”
Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”
