JEDDAH: The Ministry of Labor has announced that it is coordinating with relevant bodies to find expatriate women who work as “independent hairdressers.” The ministry says it will penalize them with prison, fines or deportation.
According to an official at the ministry, who spoke to a local newspaper, the ministry seeks the involvement of Saudi women in an organized labor market free of unfair competition. Therefore, he called on citizens not to deal with illegal labor which puts pressure on Saudi workers.
Jawahar Abdul Rahman Al-Aqil, an expert at a Riyadh center to develop small and medium businesses, said a study had been completed regarding the entire sector and the problems it faces. The study contains a number of possible solutions. She said that the ministry could monitor wedding halls and rest houses and direct them to prevent the entry of illegal or irregular workers.
Businesswomen said there are many violations of the residency and labor laws by those who work as hairdressers. These individuals have thereby taken business away from Saudi women who work as hairdressers.
The businesswomen said that beauty salon owners have many commitments in terms of leases and government fees; foreigners, however, who work as hairdressers escape those obligations which means they make no contributions to the Kingdom’s economy.
Rima, a beauty salon owner, said that hairdressers ask for large sums of money, as much as SR3,000 for both hair and makeup. Some exploit brides in particular by asking for as much as SR14,000. She also said these hairdressers lack health certificates which can be very dangerous.
Hind Al-Rashed, another salon owner, emphasized the importance of setting up a hotline to report hairdressers operating in violation of the labor laws. She added there was a need for society to be informed about the dangers of dealing with violators. She called for such workers to be penalized, requiring hotels and wedding halls not to admit any beautician unless she has a license and a valid health certificate.
Recently, a number of social media users published a videoclip showing an expatriate male being arrested while wearing women’s clothing and practicing hairdressing inside homes.
Since then, many have called for the introduction of laws and strict punishments to control mobile hairdressers who work without official documents and are not associated with legal beauty salons.
Riyadh police spokesman Col. Fawaz Jamil Al-Maiman said the police had nothing to do with independent hairdressers. As for the man dressed in women’s clothing, he said that the Riyadh police had not received any complaints about him.
Unlicensed hairdressers face jail, deportation
Unlicensed hairdressers face jail, deportation
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
- A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
