JEDDAH: Often classified as oppressed, persecuted and crushed by the ultra-conservative, male-dominant society, Saudi women must take a stand against the misconceptions and false stereotypes many have of them.
Times have changed in the Kingdom, and Saudi women are gaining more and more rights — something much of the world is still ignorant about.
Many people around the world have been fed wrong ideas about Saudi Arabia’s 32 million population, of which nearly half are women, according to a Step Feed report citing the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.
Women in the Kingdom can and do open their own bank accounts without the need for a male guardian’s permission, contrary to several false reports by renowned media outlets.
Women do have the authority over their own bodies and health as elective surgeries or medical treatments can be freely sought without permission from a male guardian.
“The Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions in Saudi Arabia states in article 19 that the competent patient has the right to decide on the surgery, it means that it applies for both genders,” Dima Talal Al-Sharif, a lawyer at the Law Firm of Majed Garoub in Jeddah, told Arab News.
Since the historical royal decree on September 26 last year allowing women to drive, obtaining a driver’s license does not require a guardian’s consent. “Saudi women are allowed to get a driver's license without permission from a legal guardian,” said Al-Sharif.
Since 2006, Saudi women have been able to apply for their own personal identification cards too, she added.
“As per the King’s instructions, Saudi women will be allowed to issue and renew their own passports without the guardian's permission very soon, in addition to studying abroad and traveling without their guardian's permission,” according to Al-Sharif.
“Some Saudi families allow their daughters to travel abroad without a male companion, be it for tourism or treatment,” said Riham Al-Saadi, 27, a Saudi national who has traveled to several countries without her male guardians. Al-Sharif agreed, saying that some Saudi families allow their daughters to travel alone through the electronic travel permission.
Saudi female lawyers can also plead in Saudi courtrooms, a change that came about after 2013 when the first female trainee advocate was registered, achieving a significant victory for women who were subsequently allowed to practice as lawyers.
Jeddah-based attorney Bayan Zahran became the first Saudi woman to open a law firm in January 2014.
Al-Sharif also pointed out that women have the right to issue a power of attorney by themselves.
Women are also allowed to start their own businesses without the need for a male guardian’s permission, be it a husband, father, brother or even son, explained the lawyer citing the Ministry of Commerce and Investment.
As for renting apartments and cars, Al-Sharif said, “King Salman ordered all women’s procedures to be facilitated since having their own national ID. So she has the right to rent an apartment or even a car. However, most rental offices ignore this and never apply it and require a male guardian’s [permission].”
Applying for a job is another basic right that Saudi women enjoy without the interference of a male guardian.
Claiming that women cannot mix with the opposite gender is not entirely true. While it applies in some workplaces, men and women do interact in public place like malls, restaurants and universities, where female students in Saudi universities have male instructors in classes.
Saudi courts sometimes also grant mothers custody of their children in cases where the father is found ineligible, Al-Sharif added.
Wearing a full-length black abaya is not mandatory in the country either. Women still can wear colorful robes without headscarves in some big cities like Jeddah and Riyadh. Medicine students and nurses publicly move around the hospital grounds wearing a white lab coat.
Al-Saadi said one of the biggest misconceptions she has heard about Saudi women is that they are not allowed to leave the house and they only “cook and obey men”.
“This is very wrong. Thankfully, we are living our lives to the fullest, and all these wrong ideas about us do not exist on the ground.”
A documentary about women in Saudi Arabia would be a good way to educate people, she suggested. “A documentary that shows our lives, how we are happily living. I think this is the fastest way to correct the misconceptions about us.”
Al-Sharif, the lawyer, believes that some of the misconceptions come from women's own lack of awareness of their rights.
In July 2016, an app called “Know Your Rights” was launched by Saudi lawyer Nasreen Alissa, to help spread awareness among her peers.The media plays a major role in marketing inaccurate information and claims too, said Al-Sharif.
“The solution to raise women’s awareness of their rights can be the media itself, through the proper coverage of women's empowerment and the correction of the inaccurate information.”
Her advice to Saudi women is to be more vocal about their rights.
“As a Saudi woman, it’s your turn now to look for rights and to make sure that such rights are known and applied.”
Time for Saudi women to be more vocal about their rights
Time for Saudi women to be more vocal about their rights
A legacy of learning: The enduring impact of Princess Sarah bin Saud
- Princess Sarah bin Saud helped shape Saudi Arabia’s educational legacy through her enduring commitment to knowledge and philanthropy.
RIYADH: A visionary defined by her resilience and intellectual foresight, Princess Sarah bint Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud played a pivotal role in weaving the Kingdom’s educational fabric, leaving a legacy of generosity and endowments that continues to support future generations in Saudi Arabia.
“Princess Sarah was not just a daughter or wife within the ruling family; she utilized her knowledge and social awareness to serve the nation,” Salma Hawsawi, a professor of ancient history at King Saud University and a cultural heritage expert, told Arab News.
“She left an intellectual and moral legacy that reflects the image of the Saudi woman capable of balancing religious authenticity with social responsibility and tradition with modernization,” she said.
Princess Sarah was born in Riyadh in 1877 (1294 AH), although the exact date of her birth is subject to some historical debate.
She was raised in the care of a deeply rooted and noble family. Her father was Imam Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al-Saud, the third imam of the Second Saudi State, who ruled from 1865 until his death in 1889.
Imam Abdullah was renowned for his immense generosity and his love of knowledge, contributing to many charitable endowments — a trait that Princess Sarah inherited.
She was a philosophical model combining soft power, value commitment and social effectiveness.”
Salma Hawsawi, professor of ancient history at King Saud University
Her mother died when Princess Sarah was a child, and she was cared for by Tareefah bint Obaid bin Rashid, one of her father’s wives.
This care continued until Imam Abdullah and Tareefah moved to Hail in 1887, at which point Princess Sarah moved to Riyadh to live under the care of her paternal aunt, Princess Al-Jawharah bint Imam Faisal bin Turki.
Princess Al-Jawharah was an influential figure in Princess Sarah’s life, as she was a lover of knowledge, well versed in Islamic jurisprudence, history and biographies. She also had a special interest in scholarly endowments and students of knowledge.
According to Diriyah’s historical research, throughout her life, Princess Sarah was a symbol of dedication to serving society, embodying the saying “women are the equal partners of men” in the fields of giving and social contribution, thereby confirming that the role of Saudi women in development is not new, but deeply rooted in the history of the Saudi state itself.
“The princess had a piercing vision for the future, aiming for long-term investment through knowledge management and exchange among society members,” the professor said.
Known for her generosity, Princess Sarah endowed many of her personal properties for the benefit of society.
At the forefront of these endowments was the Ad-Duraybiyah farm, south of Diriyah. The site was not just an ordinary property; it was one of the largest and most fertile farms of its time, and was distinguished by its strategic location in the As-Sarhiyyah area, located in one of the historic tributaries of Wadi Hanifah.
She chose for her endowment to be a source of knowledge and learning, reflecting her keen vision that investing in both land and people is the most optimal and enduring investment.
Princess Sarah endowed a great number of rare and valuable books for students of knowledge. These were books she had been keen to purchase herself while she was studying in scholarly circles at the time, which indicates her deep passion for knowledge and her commitment to making it available to others.
Based on the knowledge recorded of Princess Sarah, she had a deep passion for education, endowing books and manuscripts, ensuring that future generations would have access to tools for societal advancement.
When a portion of Princess Sarah’s land was included in King Saud University, the university offered the princess financial compensation. But she refused the payment, saying: “I am for knowledge and for the students of knowledge.”
Princess Sarah not only gave charity and donated the land to build King Saud University, but she also created an infrastructure for knowledge, viewing it as a long-term investment in human capital and the future generations of the Kingdom.
Due to the link between her work and the university’s endowments, the Central Library in the Female Student Campus was named the “Princess Sarah bint Abdullah bin Faisal Al-Saud Library” in appreciation of her role and contributions to development.
“All of Princess Sarah’s initiatives have a sustainable positive impact to this day. The most influential was her donation of land to King Saud University,” the historian said.
“This prestigious institution has graduated countless cohorts in various disciplines who serve their country. By donating this land, Princess Sarah indirectly contributed to the university’s expansion and the increase in specializations.
“Today, most leaders in the Kingdom are graduates of King Saud University,” Hawsawi added.
When looking at Saudi history, Saudi figures that can be compared to Princess Sarah include Princess Moudi bint Sultan bin Abi Wahtan.
“Both are magnificent models of Saudi women,” the professor said.
Princess Moudi (wife of Imam Mohammed bin Saud) established “Sablat Moudi” in Diriyah to house travelers and students.
Similarly, Princess Sarah supported students through land and book endowments.
“Both demonstrate the longstanding commitment of Saudi women to education, sustainability and community service,” Hawsawi said.
When the professor was asked what lasting memory she would like the public to know about Princess Sarah, she said: “That she was a philosophical model combining soft power, value commitment and social effectiveness.
“It must be clarified that there was prior knowledge of Princess Sarah among specialized academics, but it was limited. Documents mentioning her are very scarce, and information is scattered throughout books.”
She highlighted that much of the information relies on oral narrations from individuals who had indirect connections to her highness through their families who lived during her time or worked with her.
