MOSCOW: A panel discussion on the challenges women face in Saudi Arabia and Russia was held on Friday at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Moscow.
Panelists began by discussing the news that broke shortly before King Salman’s visit to Moscow: The issuance of a royal decree granting women the right to drive.
Faisal J. Abbas, editor in chief of Arab News and panel moderator, said the decree was ground-breaking.
He asked the Saudi panelists what they thought of women driving and if there would be any restrictions on them.
Shoura Council member Houda Al-Helaisi said: “When the king took this step, the only restriction mentioned was that women wouldn’t start driving until next June.”
She added that Saudi Arabia is only 85 years old, and whereas women’s literacy rate was 2 percent in 1962, this year it is 95 percent.
“This is an amazing leap in a little more than 50 years. It’s a great achievement for Saudi Arabia and for Saudi women,” she said.
“We’ve witnessed many changes over these 85 years. We’re moving perhaps a little slowly in the eyes of many people, but we’re moving in the right direction. I’m not going to defend or justify the reasons behind not allowing women to drive in the past, but we’re happy to see the step that has been taken,” Al-Helaisi added.
“Any society needs to move and change at a pace acceptable to its people, not at the pace of an entity with a different system of values. There’s no perfect society, and we’re moving ahead at our own pace.”
She said women in the Shoura Council initially experienced some difficulties, but as time went on they were supported by their male colleagues.
Somayya Jabarti, editor in chief of the Saudi Gazette, said: “Saudi women who have Arab or international driving licenses will able to drive immediately, and their licenses will be replaced by Saudi ones.”
The speakers said the issue is not about driving but about choice: Women will have a choice whether to drive or not. Prior to King Salman’s decree, they did not have this choice.
Jabarti and Al-Helaisi said their achievements were possible thanks to the support of their male colleagues, for which they are grateful.
They said this went against the stereotype that men are oppressing women and limiting their opportunities.
Maria Dubovikova, president of the International Middle Eastern Studies Club, replied to a question from Abbas about Russian perceptions of Saudi Arabia.
“My team worked on a questionnaire of what Russians think about Saudi Arabia. The most common responses were oil, then camels and terrorism. We’re stuck in the trap of stereotypes that must be overcome,” she said.
“I think now the situation is changing slightly because of the strong Russian presence in the Middle East, and the great progress it has made in a short time in Syria and in the region in general… We both have common and intersecting interests. There’s a need for communication, not only between the governments but also between the people.”
Abbas enquired about the challenges facing Russian and Saudi women regarding pay scales and fair treatment at work.
Dubovikova said the problem of gender inequality is common in all countries, and is due to men’s stereotypes about women.
Olga Zinyakova, CEO of the KARO cinema network, said: “The cinema business in Russia is still small but mostly dominated by men. For women in the past in Russia, they had to choose between family and work. We have a lot of prejudice in the country, and this is true to every country, I think. What we can do is share our experiences and be open. We also have to respect different types of societies. Communication is the best solution in order to get better results and transfer thoughts and ideas.”
Commenting on the wage issue in the Kingdom, Jabarti said: “Women and men are paid equally in Saudi Arabia in the public and private sectors. It’s not an issue in the country at all.”
Panel discusses women’s challenges in Saudi Arabia, Russia
Panel discusses women’s challenges in Saudi Arabia, Russia
Bangladesh Days celebrates heritage in Riyadh
RIYADH: The Bangladesh Days, held as part of Riyadh Season under the theme “Global Harmony,” concluded Saturday night at Al-Suwaidi Park, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, the event attracted people of all ages and backgrounds, who were able to enjoy a rich cultural experience reflecting the diversity of Bangladeshi heritage.
Bangladesh Days offered visitors the opportunity to taste renowned Bengali cuisine, purchase traditional clothing and artisanal items, and attend folkloric performances.
The activities provided a comprehensive experience, offering a close-up look at the vibrant traditions of Bangladesh and reflecting the cultural diversity Riyadh Season seeks to highlight.
The “Global Harmony” initiative celebrates a variety of cultures, including those of India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, and Egypt.
Riyadh Season has already drawn more than 6 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
The inspiring story behind Saudi Arabia’s Conjoined Twins Program
RIYADH: Ahead of the International Conference on Conjoined Twins held in Riyadh, Saudi aid agency KSrelief Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah hosted a media roundtable on Saturday to discuss the goals and expectations of the two-day conference that concludes on Nov. 25.
Recalling the inspiration behind the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, Al-Rabeeah explained that in 1990, amid the Second Gulf War, a set of Sudanese conjoined twins, Samah and Heba, were seeking financial support from King Fahd to get treatment abroad.
King Fahd brought the issue to Al-Rabeeah’s team at the time at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, and after months of tests and deliberations, they completed the first successful conjoined twins separation surgery in the Kingdom.
The operation took 18 and a half hours.
“We started to invest in the nationalization of the medical team until … all specialties were from Saudi Arabia,” Al-Rabeeah said. “Today we have seen 143 sets over 34 years. We have separated 61 sets with 100 percent success … and we have 7 sets waiting to be separated.”
King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital now has the only known conjoined twins operating room.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved this program under KSrelief to support low-income families and families from conflict zones.
“Humanity has no politics, no boundaries, no religion, and no color,” said Al-Rabeeah.
The conference will cover a range of topics, including the candidacy process, antenatal and post-natal care, cardiac conditions, ethical considerations, reconstruction, and 3D imaging.
Al-Rabeeah also said the conference is set to discuss and sign several UN agreements related to children, including on conjoined twins, polio vaccination in Afghanistan, artificial limbs, infectious diseases in children, and the children of Gaza.
He also spoke about the importance of combining medical knowledge in the Gulf and working together to create specialized centers across the region for different matters, to make operations more cost-effective and advanced.
“Science is not owned, it is for everybody,” the Saudi aid agency chief said.
On the technological developments that are optimizing this procedure, Al-Rabeeah mentioned the use of argon lasers, ultrasonic knives, new electric coatings to avoid bleeding, less sensitive prosthetics, and, most importantly, early diagnosis.
Al-Rabeeah said that the greatest research in this program has been done on early detection of conjoined twins in the womb. They are now capable of detecting conjoined twins sometimes at just eight to 10 weeks.
Al-Rabeeah’s most crucial piece of advice is urging women to start prenatal care early.
The importance of psychological care for both the patients and the families was also discussed. Al-Rabeeah pointed out what is referred to as “separation trauma” that twins endure when learning how to adjust to their bodies after having been connected all their lives.
“The twins, they have pain, they have suffered. I have seen two kinds of tears in my life. We all know about the tears of despair, the tears of pain. But with conjoined twins, I have seen clearly the tears of happiness and joy.
“When I come out of the operating room, going in with one bed, and coming out with two beds … this is the best moment in my life.”
Separated twins, families visit 2034 World Cup exhibit, historic At-Turaif district
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief organized a special visit for conjoined twins who had undergone separation surgeries in the Kingdom, along with their families, to Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid exhibition.
The visit was organizaed on the sidelines of the International Conference on Conjoined Twins, held in Riyadh from Nov. 24-25.
The twins and their families also toured the historic At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning architecture, which reflects Saudi Arabia’s scientific and cultural advances.
At the end of the visit, the twins and their families expressed their gratitude to the Kingdom, represented by KSrelief, for organizing the visit and for the warm hospitality of the Saudi people.
‘The extraordinary has become the ordinary in Saudi Arabia,’ says Middle East expert
- Appearing on “Frankly Speaking,” Norman Roule called for more robust media narrative to communicate the Kingdom’s ambition
- Lauded the role of Ambassadors Michael Ratney and Princess Reema bint Bandar in strengthening bilateral relationship
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s transformation, showcased by world-class entertainment events, AI and green energy investments, and giga-projects, continues to redefine its global image and influence, but according to Middle East expert Norman Roule, more can be done to explain the Kingdom’s ambitions to the world.
On the diplomatic front, the former senior American intelligence officer believes Saudi-US relations will continue to thrive regardless of the administration in Washington and despite the temporary pause caused by the Gaza war.
“Truth be told, I see so much that is extraordinary in Saudi Arabia that the extraordinary has become the ordinary,” he said on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” referring to the star-studded “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” fashion show on Nov. 14 as part of Riyadh Season 2024, which has drawn over 6 million visitors and turned the Saudi capital into a cultural and entertainment hub.
“Saudi Arabia must have what it needs to achieve its vision as a global node of progress, stability, interfaith relationships,” Roule said, noting that the Kingdom “is located in the center of so many pathways of global commerce and social exchange between India and Africa, between Europe and Asia.”
Calling for a more robust narrative strategy to dispel misconceptions and showcase Saudi Arabia’s impact, he underscored the importance of investing in media programs similar to “Frankly Speaking” to communicate the Kingdom’s vision “in English to the international community.”
“The world needs more of it, not just to understand what the Kingdom is doing in and of itself, but how those ambitions will shape the global society and the global economy. Understanding Saudi Arabia’s investments in green energy, along with those of the United Arab Emirates. It’s critical to the future of the planet for developing countries — for the Global North and the Global South,” Roule told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.”
“Understanding how entertainment connects Europe to Asia, how it’s going to shape how people move in the world. That can only be done with more information being put out.”
Roule spoke of Saudi Arabia’s influence on critical issues, such as women’s empowerment and cultural exchange, stating that it can reach well beyond its borders, shaping developments across the region and even other continents. “The role of protecting women’s rights is not just a Saudi issue,” he said, “but I’d like to see Saudi Arabia’s influence touch Afghanistan and Africa.”
Roule also offered an enthusiastic assessment of NEOM — a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy beyond oil — describing it as a game-changer for Saudi Arabia’s future. The $500 billion futuristic city on the Red Sea is designed to address challenges like population growth and sustainability while leveraging the Kingdom’s strategic location near the Red Sea.
“NEOM is 90 minutes from Athens and about 60 kilometers from the Suez Canal,” he said, and noted that its vision includes carbon-neutral technologies, transformative trade hubs like Oxagon, and revolutionary urban designs such as The Line.
“So much of this has never been done before anywhere in the world. It will be amazing,” Roule said.
“When people talk about The Line, which is often how NEOM is described in the West, I tell them, first, NEOM is the size of Belgium or Massachusetts,” he said. “Only 5 percent of the territory can be developed. And I think they’ve mapped that about 4 percent.”
Looking ahead, he said: “I have no doubt it’s going to succeed — it will be amazing — but it may not succeed on the schedule that some might hope.”
Roule lauded the work done by the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the US in their respective capitals to strengthen bilateral relations. “Michael Ratney is not only experienced, a superb Arabist, but he’s someone who has a deep knowledge and understanding and respect for the region,” he said. “He’s exactly the sort of ambassador the United States would hope to have in a position as consequential as this.
“At the same time, you have Saudi Ambassador Reema bint Bandar in Washington, who is extremely capable. She is a national treasure for both of our countries as we look to understand and work together.”
Roule praised the two ambassadors for encouraging American executives to visit Saudi Arabia, saying: “I have been with such executives at some of these meetings. If they’re fresh to the Kingdom, they’re delighted and amazed; if they don’t come often, they’re delighted and amazed.”
Ultimately, he said, “the success that we all hope to achieve is not a business deal; it’s a partnership on the broader ambitions of the Kingdom and the United States for regional stability and progress.”
UN official lauds KSrelief’s landmine work in Yemen
- The UN official emphasized the importance of continuing such humanitarian projects to achieve stability in Yemen and protect civilians
Riyadh: The UN special envoy’s military adviser to Yemen, Antony Hayward, praised the work carried out by Saudi aid agency KSrelief’s Project Masam to clear landmines in Yemen.
During his visit to the agency’s headquarters in Marib, he said that the project works to protect the lives of civilians and secure large areas of Yemeni territory despite the challenges posed by landmines.
The UN official emphasized the importance of continuing such humanitarian projects to achieve stability in Yemen and protect civilians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Last week, meanwhile, members of Project Masam removed 840 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen, including anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and unexploded ordnance, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said 470,416 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are responsible for clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of landmines.
