JEDDAH: The number of Saudi women working in the tourism and hospitality sector is rapidly growing.
Many have begun to work at five-star hotels in positions ranging from receptionists to public relation managers, customer services, bookings and other jobs.
Ibraheem Al-Sini, dean of the tourism and hospitality college at King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah, told Arab News: “In 2019, a special degree for females will be offered, and a tourism and hospitality major will form one of the specialties under the department of events management.”
A study conducted by Al-Sini over the past 12 years has shown that a huge transformation has taken place in terms of improvements in qualifications and employee performance.
He added that another study was conducted globally on the number of people working and studying in the events management sector which revealed that more than 75 percent of employees in this field are female.
“Thus, we decided to have events management as a department for female students at KAU.”
Asked about qualifications for working in the tourism and hospitality sector, he said: “Employees have to have practical experience, not only theoretical, to be able to cope with hotel rules and understand how to deal professionally with consumers.”
Language and communication skills are also important, he added: “Mastery of the English language is one of the basics in such jobs, and speaking more than one language will make the employee more confident when communicating with customers.”
The recruitment department at a 5 star Jeddah hotel told Arab News: “Many females are occupying jobs at Hilton hotels such as guest relations, receptionists on the businessmen’s floor, and other administrative positions.
“Conditions of recruitment depend on the employee’s English language skills. Also, priority goes to tourism and hospitality graduates. We have two female employees for now and look forward to increasing the number.”
As the tourism sector is one of the fastest developing sectors in the country and in the world, it should offer graduates ample opportunities for work.
How can I help you? More women join Saudi tourism and hospitality industry
How can I help you? More women join Saudi tourism and hospitality industry
Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience
Riyadh: Perfumes are emerging as living connections to ancestral memory at the Jazan Festival 2026, which opened on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A narrative rooted in botanical origins is unfolding as veteran craftswomen showcase decades of accumulated wisdom, transforming the contents of native plants into small vessels that distill the human bond with terrain.
Aromas wafting through the space suggest imagery of regional ecosystems — fragrant vegetation cultivated across highland and lowland zones, harvested during optimal periods, then subjected to extended drying and distillation processes before materializing as perfumes and essences embodying geographical character, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Arranged fragrance containers resemble nature’s output, composed by skilled practitioners versed in harvest timing, plant dormancy requirements and scent extraction methods, yielding products preserving organic integrity and territorial identity.
Craftswoman Fatima bint Mohammed Al-Faifi has dedicated two decades to perfume production, characterizing regional practice as social custom interwoven throughout daily existence — deployed in guest reception, featured at celebrations, accompanying community gathering — elevating scent to cultural signature, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Festival attendees are discovering aromatic botanicals, absorbing production methodology explanations and discerning nuanced olfactory distinctions, demonstrating how craftsmanship blends persistence with expertise, tradition with innovation.
Perfume artisan involvement aligns with Jazan Festival’s initiative repositioning traditional crafts as dynamic, evolving culture while spotlighting women’s contributions safeguarding regional inheritance and expressing this through modern methods, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
