KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia: Mervat Bukhari, a force of nature draped head-to-toe in Islamic niqab, braved insults and taunts to become the first Saudi woman to work at a gas station, something unimaginable not long ago.
The kingdom is in the midst of reforms that mark the biggest cultural shake-up in its modern history.
Kickstarted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the reforms include the historic decision allowing women to drive from June, attend soccer games and take on jobs that once fell outside the narrow confines of traditional gender roles.
But the backlash faced by women like Bukhari illustrates how newfound empowerment is a potential social lightning rod in a country unaccustomed to such visibility for women.
When Bukhari, 43 and a mother of four, was promoted as supervisor of a gas station in eastern Khobar city last October, insults began pouring in on social media with the hashtag “Saudi women don’t work at gas stations.”
Bukhari, previously employed in a junior role by the same parent company, was forced to go on the defensive, telling critics she was in a managerial position and not physically handling fuel nozzles.
“I am a supervisor. I don’t fill gas myself,” she reasoned, seeking to win a modicum of respectability for a job that class-conscious Saudi men disdain.
“Women today have the right to do any work.”
Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 reform plan for a post-oil era seeks to elevate women to nearly one-third of the workforce, up from about 22 percent now.
Government statistics also put more than one million Saudi women as currently looking to enter the workforce.
The reforms have seen the Saudi labor market slowly open up to women, introducing them to jobs that were once firmly the preserve of men.
The social change, catalyzed in large measure by what experts characterise as economic pain owing to a protracted oil slump, has introduced a series of firsts.
Saudi media has championed in recent months the first woman restaurant chef, first woman veterinarian and even the first woman tour guide.
But women face sobering realities — despite often being better qualified than men.
“Saudi women are better educated, but less mobile, less employed and vastly underpaid,” Karen Young, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told AFP.
Average monthly salaries in the private sector are close to 8,000 Saudi riyals ($2,134, 1,748 euros) for men, and only 5,000 riyals for women, according to research firm Jadwa.
But Riyadh is seeking to change that through what appears to be social engineering.
The decision to allow women to drive after a decades-long ban could give women the much-needed mobility to join the workforce.
For the first time, women are seen alongside men in jazz music concerts and in mixed-gender restaurants.
“The well-known expression: ‘You are a woman, cover your face’ seems to be disappearing from our society,” human rights lawyer Abdulrahman Al-Lahim wrote recently in Okaz newspaper.
But Saudi activists say social change will only be cosmetic without dismantling the rigid guardianship system, which requires that women seek permission from a male relative to study, travel and other activities.
That leaves many vulnerable to the whims of a controlling father, a violent husband or a vengeful son.
Horror stories have regularly surfaced.
Women inmates are often reported to be stuck in prisons after completing their terms because they were not claimed by their guardians.
One Saudi woman told AFP how she was stuck in limbo, unable to even renew her passport, when her father, her only male guardian, slipped into a coma after an accident.
“If I could choose between the right to drive or the right to end guardianship, I would choose the latter,” a women’s activist said on the condition of anonymity.
Saudi women now no longer need male permission to start business.
Saudi Arabia also recently annulled the “house of obedience” article in the marriage law, which grants a husband the right to summon his wife to his home against her will.
The reform introduces a novel concept in married life: mutual consent.
“This is not a revolution, this is evolution,” Hoda Al-Helaissi, a member of the advisory Shoura Council, told AFP, referring to newfound social liberties.
“It’s a rite of passage for women.”
Back at Bukhari’s home in neighboring Dammam city, she embraced her youngest son Mohammed — who stood by her even as her brothers decried her gas station job as a shocking breach of tradition.
But the 16-year-old prefers to hide his mother’s job from his peers, hoping to protect her from even more insults.
“Maybe five years from now it will be normal to see women at gas stations,” he said, kissing his mother’s hand.
Saudi women will drive but face bumpy road to empowerment
Saudi women will drive but face bumpy road to empowerment
Saudi, US defense chiefs discuss regional security in phone call
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman received a phone call from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two discussed defense cooperation between the two countries, SPA added.
They also spoke about regional developments and shared efforts to enhance security and stability in the region and beyond.
Saudi Arabia highlights cultural preservation efforts at UNESCO Executive Board session in Paris
- Kingdom’s permanent representative announces two digital initiatives to be launched in partnership with UN body
- Abdulelah bin Ali Al-Tokhais says Kingdom remains committed to advancing the organization’s strategic priorities
PARIS: Saudi Arabia has highlighted its work in cultural preservation at the 221st session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at the organization’s headquarters in Paris, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The session, which opened Monday and runs until April 17, is being attended by representatives from member states and key international stakeholders.
The UNESCO Executive Board, of which Saudi Arabia is a member, is one of the organization’s three main governing bodies, alongside the General Conference and the Secretariat.
Comprising 58 member states elected for four-year terms, the board evaluates the organization’s work, oversees programs, and reviews budgetary matters.
Saudi Arabia’s delegation is led by Abdulelah bin Ali Al-Tokhais, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to UNESCO.
Also in attendance are members of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and representatives from various national institutions.
Delivering the Kingdom’s address during the opening session, Al-Tokhais underscored Saudi Arabia’s historic and ongoing partnership with UNESCO, highlighting that the Kingdom was among the first nations to sign the UN Charter in 1945.
He emphasized the robust cooperation between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO, particularly through the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, a partnership that recently culminated in the Kingdom hosting the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities, held under the patronage of King Salman.
Al-Tokhais also noted the Kingdom’s role in cultural preservation, citing the Saudi Fund to Support, Protect and Promote Culture and Heritage at UNESCO.
As part of collaborative efforts, he announced that two digital initiatives — the Virtual Museum of Stolen Objects and the Digital Heritage Platform — will be launched in partnership with UNESCO in the first half of 2025.
He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for UNESCO’s mission, and said that the Kingdom remained committed to advancing the organization’s strategic priorities and contributing to global development goals.
Saudi development agency improves Yemen’s sports infrastructure to empower youth
- SDRPY has built over 30 basketball and volleyball courts in schools across various Yemeni governorates
- Agency is dedicated to implementing sports projects in Yemen that meet global standards to enhance youth skills
RIYADH: The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen has supported various sports and youth initiatives in the country as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to empower Yemeni youth.
The SDRPY has built over 30 basketball and volleyball courts in schools across various Yemeni governorates, and supported the construction of FIFA-standard stadiums for clubs such as Al-Jazira, Al-Rawdah, and Al-Menaa.
In a report, the agency said that it remains dedicated to implementing sports projects in Yemen that meet global standards to enhance youth skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The SDRPY’s work in Yemen includes restoring sports facilities, sponsoring tournaments, providing technical support and sports education, and developing athletic skills among Yemeni children.
Various sports tournaments have been organized by the development agency to provide young Yemeni athletes with opportunities to compete, the SPA added.
In recent years, it has helped restore the Ali Asad Muthanna Sports Hall in Aden after a long period of disuse, providing youth with a renewed space to engage in physical activities.
It has also organized major tournaments in the country, including the Marib Football Championship, which involved 14 clubs and 588 young participants, and a basketball tournament in Hadramout, which involved 17 clubs and 289 young participants.
The agency celebrated the Yemeni U-17 national team for their victory in the West Asian Football Championship against the Saudi U-17 national squad in December 2021 as a gesture of encouragement and acknowledgment, the SPA reported.
In June 2020, SDRPY signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Sport to support athletics in Yemen. Since then, it has backed 264 projects and initiatives across various sectors in the country, including sports, education, health, water, energy, and developmental programs.
Moma’s Garden: A Saudi family’s recipe for love
- Al-Mumen family blends culinary creativity, tradition in cozy Alkhobar restaurant
- Teamwork brings comfort through home-like decor, modern twist on Arabic flavors
ALKHOBAR: In a quiet corner of Alkhobar, Moma’s Garden has become more than just a restaurant — it is a family-run establishment at which hospitality is as important as the food itself. With another branch in Dammam, the restaurant is entirely operated by the Al-Mumen family, whose members take on various roles to run its daily operations.
The atmosphere of Moma’s Garden is intentionally just like home. Sunlight filters through white curtains, casting a warm glow over wooden tables and lush greenery. The walls are adorned with framed family photographs, reflecting a history deeply intertwined with the restaurant’s identity.
Moma’s Garden started as a small venture in a Dammam hotel, a modest space that helped to lay the foundation for what would later become a larger family project.
Abdulfattah Al-Mumen, the father, said: “At first we opened Moma’s Garden in a hotel in Dammam. It was a small place, but it was big in our hearts, and that’s where our story began. Now, with our second branch in Alkhobar, our journey continues.
“It is built on the passion of our family, my wife’s creativity, and our children’s experiences from traveling and living abroad. They learned to cook for their friends, and today they are capable of managing businesses, finances, architecture, and law.”
And while each member of the family brings something to the table, Al-Mumen said: “The mastermind behind all the creativity is my wife. In the end we are simply a family that enjoys cooking and being together.”
We are not just running a business. We are sharing our passion, our creativity, and our love for food. At the end of the day what matters most is that we continue to do what we love together.
Abdulfattah Al-Mumen
Abdulhadi, their young son, told Arab News: “I handle the front desk, my mother oversees the menu and its development, Hassan manages finances, and Bayan handles legal matters.”
However, the roles are not set in stone and each family member steps up as needed. Abdulhadi added: “My father and I collaborate on architectural and design aspects … Sometimes my father is a waiter and sometimes I cook in the kitchen. We all share responsibilities.”
At the heart of Moma’s Garden is Intessar, the matriarch who personally oversees the menu and ingredient selection, ensuring that every dish meets her high standards.
She said: “Finding the right ingredients can be difficult. Every day I go out myself and handpick what we use. Maybe that’s why this place feels like home to so many people. Even the local vendors recognize me now and know I won’t settle for anything less than top quality.
“Our dishes are not traditionally Arabic, but we’ve given them a modern twist infused with Arabic elements, like shakshuka and date toast.”
This hands-on approach and commitment to fresh ingredients help define Moma’s Garden’s philosophy.
The setting at Moma’s Garden is carefully designed to create a welcoming and relaxed environment. The wooden tables, soft pastel hues, and an abundance of plants contribute to an atmosphere that encourages guests to unwind and enjoy their meal.
A unique feature is the wishing tree, where visitors leave handwritten notes — a symbol of community and connection that has become an integral part of the restaurant’s charm.
Al-Mumen said: “We select our ingredients as if we are choosing them for our own home, so that our guests feel like they are in their second home, not just any restaurant.
“We want them to feel like they are visiting us, like guests in our own house.”
For many customers, this sense of familiarity is what keeps them coming back.
Roa Khushina, a fitness trainer and regular at the establishment, said: “I always come to Moma’s Garden — it’s honestly one of the best restaurants in Alkhobar. Their dishes are excellent, diverse, and they even offer healthy options.”
Running a restaurant as a family comes with its own challenges, particularly in hiring staff who align with the restaurant’s vision.
Hassan, the eldest son, said: “We don’t just look for employees — we look for people who fit our culture, who see this place as more than just a job. It takes us four to five months to find the right person.”
Despite occasional differences in opinion, the Al-Mumen family views these challenges as an essential part of working together and evolving the business.
“These challenges make our family stronger, and we see ourselves as partners in success,” he added.
With two established locations, the family remains committed to maintaining quality rather than expanding too quickly.
“We are not just running a business,” said Al-Mumen. “We are sharing our passion, our creativity, and our love for food. At the end of the day what matters most is that we continue to do what we love together.”
For many visitors Moma’s Garden is not just a restaurant but a place shaped by personal stories, dedication, and a deep appreciation for hospitality.
Deputy minister receives Portuguese ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- They reviewed issues of common interest and future cooperation
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Ambassador of Portugal to the Kingdom Nuno Mathias in Riyadh, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
During the meeting, they reviewed “issues of common interest and future cooperation,” the ambassador added in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji recently received in Riyadh Alison Dilworth, US Embassy charge d’affaires ad interim to the Kingdom.
They reviewed bilateral relations and international developments.
