JEDDAH: Saudi women no longer require a permission from a “male guardian” to travel or obtain a passport, a decree signed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz indicates.
According to the document — seen and verified by Arab News — the decree, issued three days ago, clearly stresses the right of every Saudi citizen to obtain a passport, and limits the need for a guardian’s approval to minors only.
The decree is written in a gender-neutral manner, and does not state any restrictions specific to women.
Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi authorities have addressed all flaws in the system that prevented women from living their lives securely and free from unnecessary hassles.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US said she was “elated” to confirm the new changes to the country’s labor and civil law.
Princess Reema bint Bandar said the amendments are “designed to elevate the status of Saudi women within our society, including granting them the right to apply for passports and travel independently.”
These developments have been a long time coming. From the inclusion of women in the consultative council to issuing driving licenses to women, our leadership has proved its unequivocal commitment to gender equality.
“These new regulations are history in the making. They call for the equal engagement of women and men in our society. It is a holistic approach to gender equality that will unquestionably create real change for Saudi women,” she added.
“Women have always played an integral role in our country’s development, and they will continue to do so moving forward on equal footing with their male counterparts,” said the diplomat in a series of tweets early Friday.
The issue was under discussion in the Shoura Council for quite some time. Dr. Eqbal Darandari, a member of the Shoura Council, had spoken about the necessity of revoking the requirement of a guardian’s permission for Saudi women to travel.
The Shoura Council member strongly felt this step was in the right direction as it tallied with the decree to allow women to drive. The two — in her opinion — were interminably connected.
“I am for justice, and there’s a lot of injustice against some women due to misconstrued traditions and practices, and limited religious outlooks, putting women in harm’s way as a result.”
A number of international media outlets reported earlier this year that the decision to remove all restrictions on women traveling was being discussed at the highest levels of government and was due to be implemented before the end of this year.
Saudi Arabia ends restrictions on women traveling — Royal Decree
Saudi Arabia ends restrictions on women traveling — Royal Decree
- The amendments are “designed to elevate the status of Saudi women within our society, including granting them the right to apply for passports and travel independently”
- The decree is written in a gender-neutral manner, and does not state any restrictions specific to women
Saudi minister of culture explores KSA pavilion at Venice Biennale
- Prince Badr met his Italian counterpart, Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano
- Prince Badr also explored the “Journeys in Land Art: Towards Wadi AlFann, AlUla” exhibition
VENICE/LONCON: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi minister of culture and governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, has concluded his official visit to Italy.
Throughout his trip, he engaged in discussions with prominent Italian cultural figures, aiming to strengthen cooperation and foster cultural exchanges between the two countries.
During the visit, the Saudi minister convened with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.
They delved into strategies to strengthen cooperation and deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The pair praised noteworthy cultural initiatives and projects that unfolded in 2023 across diverse spheres including heritage preservation, fashion, music, museum exhibitions, architectural innovation, design, and visual arts.
During this week’s trip, Prince Badr visited the Saudi Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, hosted at the Arsenale center, which was showcasing Manal AlDowayan’s “Shifting Sands: A Battle Song.”
AlDowayan’s work illuminates the evolving role of Saudi women in the public sphere, and their efforts to redefine both their physical spaces and the narratives surrounding them.
Prince Badr also explored the “Journeys in Land Art: Towards Wadi AlFann, AlUla” exhibition, which serves as an introduction to the Kingdom’s culturally and historically rich region of AlUla.
It also features work by AlDowayan alongside exhibits by Agnes Denis, Michael Heizer, Ahmed Mater, and James Turrell, and includes photographs and video presentations.
The exhibition runs until April 30, and will host discussion panels on topics such as land art, art in public spaces, visitor experiences, museum curation, and the interplay of art and archaeology, offering a range of perspectives.
Saudi officials reveal details of highly-anticipated ‘Zarqa Al-Yamama’ opera
RIYADH: Saudi officials on Thursday revealed details of performances of “Zarqa Al-Yamama,” the first Saudi opera and the largest to be performed in the Arabic language.
The opera opens on April 25 and will run until May 4 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, the Theater and Performing Arts Commission announced at a press conference.
Sultan Al-Bazei, the CEO of the commission, said: “The ‘Zarqa Al-Yamama’ opera represents a new phase for Saudi culture, in which the most famous stories of our narrative and cultural heritage are embodied on the theater stages with qualitative works according to the highest international standards.”
He added that the new production is the result of years of work, and all its details were developed with great care and hard work.
He expressed appreciation for the follow-up and attention given by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission.
Prince Badr announced the launch of the opera on Feb. 16 at a ceremony in London, which was attended by the Saudi and international creatives participating in the opera’s production.
Al-Bazei said that “Zarqaa Al-Yamama” derives its story, spirit and language from the cultures of the Arabian Peninsula.
The opera “in some way embodies a bloody tragedy, depicting ancient history and at the same time symbolizing the sorrows of the contemporary man in the world, without being devoid of the specter of hope that heralds a bright and prosperous tomorrow,” Al-Bazei explained.
He added that the first Saudi opera will include prominent names in the Saudi music scene, most notably the author of the text, Saleh Zamanan, and the participation of a number of Saudi artists in the show.
Al-Bazei said the Dresden Sinfoniker Orchestra will perform the musical pieces of the opera, and the Czech Philharmonic Choir will accompany the events of the story with distinctive vocals, while Swiss director Daniele Finzi Pasca will undertake the task of directing all the details of the opera.
International operatic composer Lee Bradshaw put together the tunes for this epic story, drawing inspiration from some traditional elements to create a contemporary framework.
The commission announced during the press conference the main partners are the Roshan Group and the King Fahd Cultural Center.
It also honored other official partners including Banque Saudi Fransi, Saudi Signs Media and Genesis Motor, and sponsors including Nova and Spirit of Saudi Arabia, and hospitality partners Bateel and Ramada by Wyndham.
Through the opera, the Theater and Performing Arts Commission aims to strengthen the Saudi cultural sector, highlight national talent, and reproduce and revive famous works and stories inherited from the Arabian Peninsula in a contemporary and creative form.
It also aims to enhance international cultural exchange, as one of the goals of the National Strategy for Culture derived from the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia expresses regret over failure on Palestine’s bid for UN membership
- Kingdom reaffirms its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination
- Jordan also expresses ‘sincere sorrow’ on the Security Council’s inability to approve the resolution
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia expressed its regret for at the failure of United Nations Security Council adopting a resolution accepting full membership of Palestine in the UN.
In an official statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X, the Kingdom said the ‘failure to adopt the resolution allows for the Israeli occupation to continue its violations if international law without deterrence and will not bring the desired peace closer.”
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن أسف المملكة العربية السعودية لفشل مجلس الأمن الدولي في اعتماد مشروع قرار بقبول العضوية الكاملة لدولة فلسطين في الأمم المتحدة. pic.twitter.com/8ZGFdGmY50
— وزارة الخارجية (@KSAMOFA) April 19, 2024
The ministry renewed the Kingdom’s call for the international community assume its responsibility towards stopping the Israeli occupation’s attacks on civilians in Gaza.
The Kingdom also reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and establishing their Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
Jordan also expressed its ‘sincere sorrow’ on the Security Council’s inability to approve a resolution that would have admitted Palestine as a full member of the UN due to the US veto power.
In a statement, the country’s foreign affairs ministry reaffirmed “that the international community is in favor of the two-state solution, which Israel is undermining.
“The Security Council must recognize the Palestinian state in order to stop Israel from depriving the Palestinian people of their right to freedom and their own state,” state news agency Petra reported.
“Recognizing the Palestinian state and its full membership is a necessary step to impose a just peace that ends the occupation, ends the conflict, and fulfills the right of all the peoples of the region to live in security and stability,” ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah said.
“Jordan demands that all nations acknowledge the State of Palestine on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as a prerequisite to achieving regional peace and security.”
Qatar, in a statement issued by its foreign affairs ministry, also expressed its “deep regret at the failure of the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution accepting full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations.”
بيان| قطر تعرب عن أسفها البالغ لفشل مجلس الأمن في اعتماد مشروع قرار بقبول العضوية الكاملة لدولة فلسطين في الأمم المتحدة#الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/Z2G0REny2q
— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) April 19, 2024
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also expressed deep regret over the Security Council’s failure “to fulfill its responsibilities towards granting full membership to the State of Palestine in the United Nations, at a time when the Palestinian people are facing the harshest forms of aggression, persecution and genocide.
The organization, in a statement, affirmed that the “use of the United States’ veto right contravenes the provisions of the United Nations Charter, which allows membership for all states accepting the obligations therein, and continues to hinder the Palestinian people from obtaining their legitimate rights, thus perpetuating the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people over the past 75 years,” Qatar News Agency reported.
OIC also affirmed Palestine’s legitimate right to embody its political and legal status within the United Nations, “considering this as an overdue entitlement for decades based on the political, legal, historical, and natural rights of the Palestinian people in their land, as confirmed by relevant United Nations resolutions.”
Italian Embassy celebrates blossoming ties with Saudi Arabia on first ‘Made in Italy Day’
- Mission marks event with opening of new visa application center, exhibition space
- Facility will be used to promote ‘quality, variety and creativity’ of Italian goods, official says
RIYADH: The Italian Embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday celebrated the inaugural “Made in Italy Day” with the opening of a new visa application center and exhibition space.
Giuliano Fragnito, the deputy head of the mission, told Arab News the event provided an opportunity to showcase Italian expertise in a variety of fields, including the fashion, design, automotive and space industries.
“Today we are celebrating ‘Made in Italy Day,’ which is a day that celebrates the creativity, innovation and the territories of Italy and Italy’s products,” he said.
The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci on April 15, 1452.
Fragnito said the new exhibition space, called Casa Italia, would be used to promote Italy from a “commercial, cultural and scientific point of view,” with the opening event being a celebration of its contribution to the space industry, titled “Italian Space Way.”
The event was fitting as Italy and Saudi Arabia were close partners in the sector, with the Italian Space Agency and Saudi Space Commission signing an agreement in 2022 to work more closely together, he said.
The wider purpose of Tuesday’s celebrations was to highlight the growing relationship between Italy and the Kingdom in a range of fields, Fragnito said.
“Saudi Arabia is a key partner of Italy and the bilateral relationship is growing at a very fast pace … first of all from a political point of view but also the trade sector, scientific cooperation, academic cooperation and cultural cooperation.”
Italian exports to Saudi Arabia grew by 20 percent last year and Rome was keen to take the relationship between the two countries “to the next level,” he said.
“The Saudi market is more and more conscious and appreciates the quality, the variety and the creativity of the Italian products.
“Saudi Arabia is a key partner of Italy and it is very important to celebrate ‘Made in Italy Day’ in Saudi Arabia, which is a very important market for Italian exports.”
The new visa application center, which is co-managed by technology services companies AlmaViva and VFS Global, is located at Gate 2 of Loclizer Mall in Riyadh. Similar services are also available in Jeddah and Dammam.
Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle Captagon pills
RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 1,006,518 Captagon pills at Duba Port, northwest of the Kingdom.
The pills were found hidden in a shipment labeled “pepper and guava” coming into the Kingdom through the port. After the seizure was completed, coordination was made with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to ensure the arrest of the expected recipient of the seized items inside the Kingdom, and he was arrested.
Authorities said they are committed to tightening Customs control of the Kingdom’s imports and exports, stressing that they will stay vigilant to fight smuggling attempts to ensure the security of the society.
Saudi authorities have recently made several drug-related arrests and confiscations in operations across the Kingdom. Border Guard land patrols in the Jazan region thwarted an attempt to smuggle 120 kg of qat. The patrols also foiled an attempt to smuggle 170 kg of qat in Al-Ardah governorate of the same region.
