Why Arab countries must give women a fair chance

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, known for her advocacy work on women’s rights, made history last year when she became the first female Saudi ambassador to the US. (AFP)
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Updated 08 March 2020
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Why Arab countries must give women a fair chance

  • International Women’s Day is celebrated across the Arab region with calls to action for accelerating gender equality
  • Day has been observed on March 8 for over a century, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people

DUBAI: As the world marks yet another International Women’s Day (IWD), the resonance of an occasion dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in different fields is being felt in a changing Middle East.

IWD has been observed on March 8 for well over a century, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by more than a million people. Of late, IWD has been celebrated across the Arab region with calls to action for more gender equality.

Still, progress remains mixed. As experts who spoke at the recent Global Women’s Forum Dubai noted, achieving gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a key driver of change, yet the region’s female workforce participation level is the lowest in the world.

According to a McKinsey & Company analysis, women’s participation in the MENA labor force stands at 24.6 percent, compared with 77.1 percent for men and a world average of 47.8 percent (the corresponding figure for men’s participation is 75.2 percent).

INNUMBERS

  • 30% of researchers in tech, humanities and various sciences (natural, medical and health, agricultural and social) are women.
  • 20% of landholders are women, which limits economic opportunities for female farmers.
  • 700 million women alive today were married before age 18, including 250 million who were married before 15.
  • Source: UN Women

“It’s purely a women problem,” said Chiara Marcati, a partner at McKinsey & Company. “It matters if you think about the future and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the emerging technology breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, energy storage and quantum computing.

Marcati pointed to a number of developments, including advances in automation, that will impact repetitive and labor-intensive tasks in male-dominated sectors.

“It’s good news in the sense that it won’t directly impact women, but it’s also an opportunity for women,” she said. “Only 15 percent of women will be directly impacted, so they can access sectors that are traditionally dominated by males.

“Imagine if we have the first woman miner from Saudi Arabia who will (do her job) from her living room. That’s what automation can offer.”

That being said, with demand for technological skills set to rise 55 percent by 2030 and digital advancements transforming many occupations, women will need to expand their capabilities to stay competitive.




Queen Rania of Jordan has been a long time advocate of greater female empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa region. (AFP)

“At the moment, it’s not the case,” Marcati said. “Women are a step behind compared with men (in technological skills). So, if we want to stay competitive, digitization needs to be on our mind.”

The situation is no different in online activity, with women in MENA countries underrepresented on different platforms.

Only 28 percent of women in the region are online compared with 44 percent globally, and they apply for 20 percent fewer jobs than men, according to Marcati.

“Online platforms are a beautiful tool for women to access jobs,” she said.

“Networking and developing professional relationships that could create opportunities for jobs was traditionally conducted in a majlis.

“The majlis was a hub of professional networking, but women weren’t allowed there. So (being active online) will give women fantastic access.”

According to Pedro Conceicao, director of the UN Develop Program’s Human Development Report office, the period from 2010 to 2014 saw a “shocking” reinforcement of social norms worldwide that reflected antipathy towards gender equality.

“It was quite puzzling,” he said, adding: “Part of the pushback was actually happening in some of the countries (with) the highest substantive achievements in gender equality.”

What the experience showed, Conceicao said, is that the achievement of gender equality is a never-ending struggle.

“It always needs to be energized,” he said. “It’s a job that’s never done, and especially as women come to more powerful positions, we see that this pushback becomes more intense.”

If efforts to close the employment gender gap succeed, economies will benefit from growth, as proven in places such as the US and Europe throughout the 20th century, according to Conceicao.

“It had a big payoff in economic growth,” he said. “The big game changer is that women aren’t just like men when they come into the (picture). They bring diversity, creativity and new perspectives. Firms in which women are represented in senior management and boards yield higher returns.”

Conceicao’s view was seconded by Marcati, who said enterprises fully or partially owned by women generate two and a half times more return on investment than other kinds, even though only a quarter of Arab start-ups belong in that category.

“Humankind has become very creative in inventing jobs,” she said. “The new generation are self-starters. However, the starting point (in the Arab region) is not good, so we need to work on this.”

In regard to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to Marcati, the challenge lies in improving the level of women’s participation in technical and professional work that plays a key role in shaping the future of society.

Here again, figures from the MENA region are abysmal: For every 10 men in such roles in the GCC, there are three women. In Saudi Arabia in particular, for every four men holding technical and professional jobs, there is one woman.

“We have to change the (situation) if we want to be somewhat active in the future,” Marcati. “It is of paramount importance.”


MILESTONES

  • June 21, 1946 - UN-backed Commission on the Status of Women is established as the first global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
  • March 8, 1975 - UN begins commemorating International Women’s Day and the UN General Assembly officially formalizes the day two years later.
  • June 19-July 12, 1975 - The first World Conference on Women takes place in Mexico where a 10-year World Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women is prepared.
  • Sept. 4-15, 1995 - At the fourth UN World Conference on Women, a progressive blueprint for women’s empowerment known as The Beijing Platform for Action is drawn up.
  • Sept. 6-8, 2000 - World leaders adopt UN Millennium Declaration. Goal 3 calls for the promotion of gender equality, Goal 5 for improving maternal health.
  • Jan. 30, 2007 - With the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325, multiple calls are made to increase women’s participation in civilian, police, and military components of peacekeeping operations.
  • Sept. 5, 2013 - Domestic Workers Convention (C189) on labor rights takes effect, giving this category of workers, most of whom are women, the same basic labor rights as other workers.

For all the energy expended, gender balance remains elusive, not just in the Middle East but the world, where women are granted only three-quarters of the legal rights men enjoy.

Experts point the finger at laws that they say are particularly discriminatory when it comes to treatment of married women vis-à-vis married men.

Other barriers have to do with the lack of support for childcare and elderly care.

“Around the world, lack of care is a huge constraint,” said Caren Grown, senior director for gender at the World Bank Group.

“Many transportation systems are also unsafe, even though more women rely on them than men.”

Although technology is viewed as a crucial enabler, far fewer women than men have a phone or internet access. And due to the way in which income and wealth is distributed, women do not earn as much, she said.

“We are learning to change the systems that would allow women to take part in a level playing field,” Grown said.

“There are still many gaps, and there are good approaches to address and close them quickly. We cannot wait 75 years.”

In Grown’s view, gender parity is not a matter of merely achieving the right targets; women have to participate with men and, at the same time, institutions, markets, laws and policies must change.

“You have to make a workplace empowering for women,” she said. “In transport ministries of some of the lowest-income countries we work with, there’s not even a single women’s bathroom.

“If you don’t have the basic enabling infrastructure, you have to implement changes in workplace policies and in acceptable standards of behavior.”

To speed up the process, Marcati suggested a set of targeted interventions, one of them being education to create awareness.

“We have to revisit all curricula so they cover skills women need to succeed,” she said.

Governments and CEOs can do their bit “by fixing structural foundations, effecting regulatory changes, influencing critical policy drivers, and devising work policies that promote gender inclusion and diversity.”

Finally, what is needed is a conducive environment that will “call out bias” and encourage efforts to promote networking and mentoring.

“But it’s not enough,” Marcati said. “The real change starts from within.”


How Saudis spiritually connect with Hajj remotely

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How Saudis spiritually connect with Hajj remotely

  • Livestreamed pilgrimage allows worshippers to embrace spirituality from afar
  • Hajj provides opportunities for reflection, growth even if people are unable to travel

RIYADH: While millions of pilgrims converge on Makkah each year for the pilgrimage which makes up the fifth pillar of Islam, many Saudis are connecting with the spirit of Hajj without ever leaving their homes.

Whether they are not yet eligible, unable to travel, or simply waiting for their turn, these individuals have found meaningful ways to experience the journey spiritually — through screens, rituals, reflections and community.

This evolving form of spiritual connection highlights a growing culture of intentional observance from afar, especially among young Saudis who see Hajj not as a spectator event, but as a season for personal transformation, wherever they are.

For 25-year-old Shatha Al-Jadaan, who has already completed Hajj, the way she engages with the pilgrimage now is more intimate than ever, even when she is not physically there.

“Now that I’ve experienced Hajj, I follow it in a more personal way,” she said. “I keep the Makkah live stream running 24/7 at home. It’s not background noise — it’s a reminder of a moment I lived.”

She adds that her digital engagement with the pilgrimage is deeply structured. “I fast all 10 days of Dul Hijjah (the month of the pilgrimage), and I start my day earlier. I make sure the atmosphere in the house is different — calmer, more reflective.

“My acts of worship are done with full presence. It’s a way to relive the rhythm of Hajj, even if I’m not there.

“Screens can’t replace the feeling — but they do carry the spirit.”

Noor Ahmad, 21, echoed a similar sentiment. She said that seeing Hajj online helped prepare her for the moment she finally went — and now, when she watches others go, it deepens her gratitude.

“I had always seen Hajj on TV, social media, or through others’ stories,” she said. “Those images gave me a glimpse and stirred a longing to go. And when I finally did, I found myself connecting the visual memories with what I was living in real time.”

After her return, the act of watching became a kind of remembrance. “It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a form of spiritual presence,” she said.

Omar Al-Shehri, 33, uses the Hajj season to teach his children about the rituals.

“Every day during Dul Hijjah, we sit as a family, watch the scenes from Mina and Arafat, and I explain each step to my kids. Even though we’re not there, they’re growing up understanding the weight and meaning of it.”

He adds: “They’ll perform Hajj one day, insha’Allah — but until then, they’re growing in awareness.”

Digital platforms have played a huge role in how people spiritually engage with Hajj. Official channels like Saudi Press Agency, Al-Ekhbariya, and digital apps like Haramain Watch allow viewers to follow crowd sizes, ritual timing, and even live fatwas in real time.

Layla Al-Fahad, 29, uses X with mutuals and WhatsApp groups with close friends to share spiritual prompts. “We share reminders, dhikr, and short prayers every day during the ten days. It’s like a mini spiritual retreat — just in group chat form.”

Other Saudis have turned to digital booklets, daily phone reminders, or interactive timelines of the Hajj rituals to stay aligned with the pilgrims’ journey.

The most compelling insight from many of these remote observers is that distance doesn’t diminish intention. In fact, for some, it heightens it.

“There’s something humbling about knowing you’re not there, but still feeling connected,” said Al-Fahad. “You start praying differently, reading differently, even walking differently during those 10 days. Everything becomes softer, more deliberate.”

For many Saudis, participating in the spiritual season does not require boarding a bus, plane, or train. It requires presence of heart, clarity of mind, and intention of soul.


Saudi pumps 895,622 cubic meters of water on Arafat Day

Updated 8 min 11 sec ago
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Saudi pumps 895,622 cubic meters of water on Arafat Day

RIYADH: The Saudi Water Authority announced that the water system pumped 895,622 cubic meters of water in Makkah and the holy sites during Arafat Day.

The total volume pumped since the start of the Dhu Al-Hijjah month, through its ninth day, reached 7,794,799 cubic meters, SPA reported on Friday.

This operational achievement aligns with a meticulously designed plan to ensure an uninterrupted water supply, leveraging production and transport capacities that meet the peak daily demand of more than 1.2 million cubic meters. The system’s pumping capacity surpasses one million cubic meters daily.

Operational oversight included 4,908 laboratory tests on Arafat Day to ensure water quality and safety. These tests elevate total inspections to record levels, reinforcing confidence in supply quality for pilgrims.

Compliance and monitoring teams from the Saudi Water Authority conducted more than 5,000 field inspections across pilgrim camps and service facilities in Mina and Arafat to assess water services for pilgrims.


The women empowered through service during Hajj

Alyaa Malibari. (SUPPLIED)
Updated 8 min 50 sec ago
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The women empowered through service during Hajj

  • While women have always traditionally supported the pilgrimage, their role is growing under Vision 2030
  • ‘Education is key,’ says professor dedicated to increasing women’s participation in Hajj services

RIYADH: The role played by women during Hajj has evolved considerably in recent years, highlighting their contributions to one of the world’s largest gatherings of humanity.

One inspiring woman involved in the pilgrimage is Alyaa Malibari, a professor at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah.

She has dedicated her career to enhancing pilgrims’ experiences while also empowering other women and works with several operators to run courses for members of the public interested in volunteering during Hajj.

(AN photo/Adnan Salem Mahdaly)

She devised the Qaidat program, a leadership initiative for women that introduces them to various roles and responsibilities. Another, Hunna, is a female-led project that aligns with Vision 2030 and focuses on applying innovative practices during Hajj. Meanwhile, the Aguadyat program empowers women in food safety, enhancing the quality of meals provided to pilgrims.

Women have been integral to Hajj ever since its inception, offering hospitality, preparing meals and sharing religious knowledge. Today, their roles have expanded to reflect their educational and professional advancements.

Malibari has been a pivotal figure. With a background in leadership training and communication, she began her journey at a young age, inspired by her family’s commitment to serving pilgrims.

“My earliest memories of Hajj are filled with admiration for my father and the work he did. I always knew I wanted to contribute in some way,” she said, adding that empowering women was a lifelong commitment: “I want to ensure that women have the tools and knowledge to thrive during Hajj.”

Malibari’s earliest memories of Hajj are of when she was five years old and accompanied her father. Her formal involvement began in 2005 when she volunteered with the Women’s Assembly at Umm Al-Qura to assist female pilgrims.

(AN photo/Adnan Salem Mahdaly)

She later studied abroad, which allowed her to bring international attention to Saudi efforts in serving pilgrims.

“It was important for me to share our story with the world and highlight the dedication of those who serve,” she said.

In 2019, Malibari led a translation project for the Ministry of Media, producing multilingual content to enhance communication.

Beyond her contributions during Hajj, Malibari is a dedicated doctor and academic. She is keen to emphasize the importance of education and aims to inspire the next generation of leaders.

“Education is the key to unlocking potential. I want my students to understand that they can make a difference,” she said.


Muslim pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia

Updated 06 June 2025
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Muslim pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia

  • Muslims taking part in the pilgrimage throw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolizing the devil in the Mina valley

MINA, Saudi Arabia: Pilgrims were performing the last major ritual of the Hajj — the “stoning of the devil” — on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of the Eid Al-Adha holiday.

From before day break, the 1.6 million-plus pilgrims began throwing seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Makkah.

 

 

Droves of pilgrims had already set out from their accommodation in the sprawling tent city in Mina before dawn, taking advantage of the cool temperatures.

The ritual commemorates Abraham’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son.

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GALLERY: Hajj Pilgrimage 2025: Muslims ‘stone the devil’ 

***

“Our experience in Mina was easy and simple. We entered and within five minutes we had completed the stoning of the devil at the ‘Jamarat’,” said 34-year-old Wael Ahmed Abdel Kader, from Egypt, after carrying out the ritual at dawn.

Howakita, a pilgrim from Guinea, said the prospect of celebrating Eid in Makkah filled her with joy.

“When I threw the stones I felt at ease. I was truly proud,” she said.

A day earlier, pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat, praying and reciting Qur’anic verses at the 70-meter (230-foot) rocky rise near Makkah, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have given his last sermon.

Many climbed the mount despite the searing heat, though numbers had thinned by midday following official warnings for pilgrims to stay inside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m..
 

 

This year’s Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy security presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas.

The measures were aimed at preventing a repeat of last year’s Hajj that saw 1,301 people die in temperatures that hit 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).

Saudi authorities said a majority of those deaths were among pilgrims who slipped into Makkah illegally and lacked access to accommodation and other services aimed to keep pilgrims safe and protected from the searing desert heat.

This Hajj season has recorded the lowest number of pilgrims in over three decades, barring the years of Covid restrictions from 2020-2022.

Last year, 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Hajj, according to official figures.

Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by a lottery system.

But even for those who can secure them, the high costs spur many to attempt the Hajj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught.

The stoning ritual in the Mina valley was the scene of a fatal stampede in 2015, when 2,300 people were killed in one of the deadliest Hajj disasters.

Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars a year from the Hajj, and the lesser pilgrimage known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year.

The pilgrimages are also a source of prestige for the Saudi monarch, who is known as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Makkah and Medina.

The end of the Hajj coincides with the beginning of Eid Al-Adha — an annual feasting holiday marked by the slaughter of an animal — typically a goat, sheep, cow, bull or camel.


Pilgrims depart Muzdalifah at midnight for stoning ritual in Mina

Updated 06 June 2025
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Pilgrims depart Muzdalifah at midnight for stoning ritual in Mina

  • Each pilgrim casts seven pebbles at Jamrat al-Aqaba, symbolizing the rejection of evil. The ritual is repeated over the next two days at all three Jamarat pillars

RIYADH: The early hours of Friday saw pilgrims start the journey from Muzdalifah to Mina, where they will perform one of Hajj’s most symbolic rituals — the stoning of the Jamarat, which marks the beginning of Eid Al-Adha and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan.

Following a night of worship and rest, where the travelers combined and shortened the Maghrib and Isha prayers and collected pebbles for the ritual, the movement to Mina began shortly after midnight.

Saudi authorities orchestrated operations with meticulous precision, ensuring pilgrims moved in structured waves to prevent overcrowding and followed routes mapped out in advance by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.

Security personnel, crowd control units and volunteer guides lined the roads to ensure pilgrims — many of whom were elderly or physically exhausted — could travel safely.

Transportation was provided by a fleet of buses operating on strict schedules. Many people also used the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro, the dedicated Hajj-only rail system which loops between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah and can carry up to 72,000 passengers per hour. According to Saudi Press Agency, the nine-station line significantly reduced surface congestion and supported the Kingdom’s strategy for a safe and sustainable Hajj.

Upon arrival in Mina, pilgrims proceeded to Jamarat Bridge, a purpose-built, multi-level structure designed to accommodate millions performing the stoning ritual.

Each pilgrim casts seven pebbles at Jamrat al-Aqaba, symbolizing the rejection of evil. The ritual is repeated over the next two days at all three Jamarat pillars.

The millions of pebbles fall into the Jamarat’s basement, which is 15 meters deep, where they are collected by conveyor belts.

They are then sifted, washed to remove impurities, and transferred to storage vehicles. Ahmed Al-Subhi, a representative of Kidana Development Co., which manages the holy sites, said bags of pebbles were prepared in advance and distributed at more than 300 contact points in Muzdalifah and Mina.

The process is part of a broader system designed to reduce the ritual’s environmental impact and preserve its spiritual symbolism.

To ensure smooth flow at the Jamarat, the bridge is equipped with advanced surveillance systems, ventilation units, emergency exits and designated pathways for groups and individuals.

Entry and exit are managed through RFID-based Nusuk cards and digital crowd-tracking systems operated by the Saudi Data and AI Authority.

According to the General Authority for Statistics, 1,673,230 pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, with some 1,506,576 coming from outside the Kingdom.