A total of 100 Saudi women have signed training contracts for employment in hospitality and tourism sector. They would work as cooks, waitresses and cashiers for salaries ranging between SR3,000 to SR6,000 in addition to commissions, local Arabic daily Al-Watan reported Tuesday.
During the training period, which will extend from six months to a year, each woman will receive a monthly salary of SR1,000 from the Social Charity Fund.
Director of the fund Adil Farahat said the women and also 250 men signed the contracts Monday at Mursal entertainment village in Jeddah. “The contracts make it imperative to employ these young people on completion of training,” he explained.
According to Farahat, the agreement was the first of its kind in the Kingdom. “This was also the first time women were given a license to work in the tourism sector,” said. He explained that the licenses were accorded by the International Saudi Academy. He said the women would join Lailaty Ballroom to run events for women, substituting foreign employees.
Farahat said the door is wide open for Saudi youth to apply for jobs in tourism, adding that Makkah alone needs 25,000 employees at hotels.
100 Saudi women sign training contracts for jobs in hospitality sector
100 Saudi women sign training contracts for jobs in hospitality sector
UNESCO honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as thousands flock to Al-Ahsa festival
RIYADH: The third edition of Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is drawing thousands of local and international visitors to Ibrahim Palace in Al-Hofuf.
Running until Feb. 7 at the historic palace, the event features a bisht exhibition, a rare bisht gallery, a handicrafts zone and workshops led by skilled artisans.
The festival showcases a convergence of cultures, with international pavilions highlighting the global appeal of this authentic Saudi heritage.
The bisht’s allure has drawn international visitors eager to explore Al-Ahsa’s rich history and traditional crafts.
Tourists enthusiastically don the traditional robe, admiring its royal designs. Many participate in workshops with master artisans, learning the intricate art of Zari embroidery.
Organized by the Heritage Commission, this year’s festival celebrates the inscription of the bisht on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The event showcases Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old tradition of hand-weaving and gold embroidery, a craft passed down through generations of local families.
Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige.
With UNESCO’s participation and representatives from six countries, the festival has evolved into a global platform for cultural dialogue, cementing the bisht’s status as a world-class cultural treasure.
At the heart of the festival is the story of the “Golden Threads” (Al-Zari), intricate gold-plated silver threads that define the bisht’s character and prestige.
Visitors can discover them in the Golden Threads VIP Area, where they can watch master artisans demonstrate the full bisht-making process at the Host’s Majlis, offering insight into Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old craftsmanship.
