المرأة السعودية ضمن أفضل نساء العرب

عبدالله العلمي

النهار

يشهد سوق العمل في السعودية ارتفاعات واضحة في مشاركة المرأة، وهو ما تسعى إليه رؤية المملكة الطموحة لإشراك المرأة السعودية بنسب أكبر في جميع المجالات، ما يدلّ إلى الارتقاء الاجتماعي والاقتصادي للمرأة.

تستمر المملكة في تسجيل إنجازات مهمّة، في تأهيل وتنمية مهارات المواطنة وتمكينها من العمل، ما نتج منها ازدياد مشاركتها في العديد من المجالات في جميع أنحاء المملكة. كذلك أثبتت المرأة السعودية قدرتها وكفاءتها الفعّالة في قيادة التغيير وصنع القرار، وكانت النتيجة الحتمية تمكينها ودمجها كشريك فاعل في عملية التنمية.

لعلي أطرح بعض الأمثلة. ارتفع أعداد المواطنات المؤهلات في المناصب الإدارية العليا والمتوسطة في سوق العمل السعودي إلى أكثر من 42 %. أما نسبة السعوديات في المجالات الاقتصادية فتجاوزت 36% ، ووصلت نسبة المنشآت التي تملكها سعوديات إلى أكثر من 45 % من إجمالي عدد المنشآت الصغيرة والمتوسطة. هذه الإحصائيات تبشّر بالخير، والآتي أجمل.

لعلي أضيف أمثلة أخرى. ارتفعت نسبة توظيف المرأة في القطاع الصناعي 93 %، كما ارتفع عدد المواطنات في مجال الأمن السيبراني في المملكة، الثانية عالميًا في مؤشر الأمن السيبراني. كذلك قفزت نسبة وظائف المرأة في مهن الاتصالات من 11% في عام 2017 إلى 39% في عام 2022، حيث حاز برنامج تمكين المرأة في قطاع الاتصالات على جائزة عالمية من الاتحاد الدولي للاتصالات (ITU) الذي يُبرز رؤية القيادة في فتح جميع مجالات العمل للمرأة.

هنا، وصلت عنود الأسمري إلى موقع أول حَكَمة سعودية تحصل على الشارة الدولية من الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا)، بعد اختيارها من بين 8 حكام ساحة سعوديين. هناك، سيشهد أولمبياد باريس المقبل حدثًا تاريخيًا للرياضة السعودية بمشاركة السباحة مشاعل العايد في منافسات سباق 200 متر حرّة ضمن بعثة تضمّ 10 لاعبين يمثلون المملكة. وفي الفضاء، نجحت السعودية ريانة برناوي في الصعود إلى محطة الفضاء الدولية (ISS) في مهمّة علمية وطنية رسمية ضمن برنامج المملكة لرواد الفضاء.

هذا ليس كل شيء، بل تفوقت المرأة السعودية أيضًا في النطاقات العلمية والابتكار، وهذا يعود إلى قدراتها المميزة في ميادين الهندسة وعلوم الحاسوب والطب، وأصبحت عنصرًا مؤثرًا في المشهدين الثقافي والإعلامي. لا شك في أن رؤية المملكة 2030 تستهدف تعزيز وتمكين المرأة الفاعلة والمؤثرة في تلك المجالات وغيرها.

وللديبلوماسية أيضًا نصيب من نجاح المرأة السعودية. أخصّ بالذكر السفيرات: الأميرة ريما بنت بندر آل سعود في واشنطن، والأميرة هيفاء بنت عبد العزيز آل مقرن في أسبانيا، وآمال المعلمي في كندا، وإيناس الشهوان في السويد، ونسرين الشبل في فنلندا، وهيفاء الجديع سفيرة الرياض لدى الاتحاد الأوروبي.

آخر الكلام. المرأة السعودية استحوذت على 10 مراتب أولى ضمن أفضل نساء العرب، لعلّ الأمثلة القليلة التي ذكرتها تجعلنا نعتز ونتباهى بهذه الإنجازات.

https://www.annaharar.com/231726 

@AbdullaAlami1

Saudi Women among The Best Arab Women

Abdullah Al Alami* 

The Saudi labor market is witnessing increases in women’s participation in social and economic fields. The Kingdom’s ambitious vision seeks to involve Saudi women in greater proportions in all areas. Saudi Arabia continues to witness important achievements in developing the skills of citizens, and Saudi women have proven their ability and effective competence in leading change and decision-making.

 

Let me provide a few examples. The number of qualified female citizens in senior and middle management positions in the Saudi labor market has increased to more than 42%. The percentage of Saudi women in economic fields has exceeded 36%, and the percentage of establishments owned by Saudi women has reached more than 45% of the total number of small and medium enterprises. These facts are promising, and there is more to come.

 

The percentage of women in the Saudi industrial sector increased by 93%, and the number of female citizens in cybersecurity, which ranks second globally in the cybersecurity index, also increased in the Kingdom. The percentage of women’s jobs in telecommunications professions also jumped from 11% in 2017 to 39% in 2022, as the Saudi Women’s Empowerment Program in the Telecommunications Sector won a global award from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

Anoud Al-Asmari became the first Saudi female referee to receive the international badge from (FIFA). The upcoming Paris Olympics will witness a historic event for Saudi sports with the participation of swimmer Mishaal Al-Ayed in the 200-meter race as part of a delegation of 10 players representing the Kingdom. Furthermore, Rayyanah Barnawi succeeded in ascending to the International Space Station (ISS) on an official national scientific mission managed by the Kingdom’s astronaut program.

 

This is not all, Saudi women have also excelled in scientific and innovative fields, due to their distinguished capabilities in engineering, and computer science. There is no doubt that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to enhance and empower effective and influential women in these fields and others.

 

Diplomacy is also a Saudi women’s success story. Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud in Washington, Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin in Spain, Amal Al-Mouallimi in Canada, Enas Al-Shahwan in Sweden, Nisreen Al-Shabal in Finland, and Haifa Al-Jedaie, Riyadh’s ambassador to the European Union.

 

My last word. Saudi women have won the top 10 places among the best Arab women. These are just a few examples of Saudi women's achievements.

*Saudi writer

http://abdullahalami.blogspot.com

@AbdullaAlami1

Saudi Global Competitiveness

Abdullah Al Alami*

July 15, 2024

 

Saudi Arabia achieved a historic and unprecedented reduction in the unemployment rate. The incentives are clear; several recent decisions contributed to adding new job opportunities in attractive fields to the young generation. In addition, initiatives were launched to adopt new policies to stimulate the recruitment of qualified Saudis with technical skills and at the same time support advanced training programs Kingdome-wide.

Thus, there are distinctive transformations aimed at diversifying the economy, which has created job opportunities with good salaries and attractive incentives. This has improved the standard of living and enhanced purchasing power. Saudi Arabia provides aid to companies that employ and train citizens to meet the country’s labor market needs.

The outcome is clear; success in creativity and innovation, and development of modern technologies to enhance the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. There is also a keenness to provide young people with the skills necessary to engage in advanced technical jobs. This will stimulate professional development and contribute to building distinguished human capital in a healthy job market.

Here are two recent examples. The Shura Council called on Al-Baha University to create specialized programs with academic accreditation. The Shura Council also called on Hail University to work on diversifying its investments of its own revenues to achieve financial efficiency and sustainability. I believe we need to expand the recruitment of qualified faculty members in health, technical, and engineering specialties in all Saudi major universities where possible.

How does oil fit into all of this? Benchmark crudes are set to post some growth due to possible forecasts for demand and supply disruptions are likely to ease. Strong fuel demand is expected in the United States this summer, and oil demand will probably peak by 2029 at around 106 million barrels per day.

However, there are conflicting signals about the US economy. The US Federal Reserve has not decided whether to keep interest rates steady or postpone the decision until end of 2024. Ayman Al-Sayyari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, stressed that Saudi Banks are safe from troubled US Banks. Riyadh has reconfirmed the availability of safe and guaranteed liquidity, and the strength of its financial position.

 

*Saudi Economist 

Soon... Saudi Arabia Among the World's 15 Largest Economies

Abdullah Al-Alami*

Saudi arts and culture caught the attention of calligraphers and craftsmen at the Saudi pavilion at the 2024 Beijing International Book Fair. The Kingdom was rightfully named the guest of honor at the world’s second-largest book fair. The Saudi pavilion contributed to enriching the rapprochement between civilizations, and highlighting the Saudi intellectual side to the Chinese audience through a cultural program that included 15 seminars, an exhibition of traditional costumes, as well as a display of instruments used in Saudi music.

During the same period, Saudi Arabia mobilized the largest number of companies specialized in sustainable infrastructure to explore opportunities at the UK-Saudi summit in London. I might add that the value of trade exchange between Riyadh and London exceeded $21 billion, and the next goal is to increase the volume to $37.5 billion by 2030. Riyadh also hosted the Saudi-British Partnership Council meeting, attended by ministers, and 800 participants from the public and private sectors, to develop economic relations between the two countries. 

The Saudi-US Investment Council also held meetings in Washington with the participation of 20 government agencies. The volume of trade exchange between the Kingdom and America in 2023 amounted to $34 billion, as mineral products were among the national goods exported to the United States, while cars and their parts were the most prominent American imported goods.

Saudi Arabia also achieved the fastest economic growth rate of 8.7 percent, and the percentage of Saudi non-oil activities in Saudi Arabia reached 51 percent of the real GDP. In addition, Riyadh granted exploration licenses in six precious metals sites, and the second largest global bank has allocated its headquarters in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is expected to become one of the distinguished construction markets in the world with contracts amounting to $181.5 billion. 

In short, Saudi Arabia is approaching the list of the 15 largest economies in the world.

*Saudi writer

The British ambassador is right

 The British ambassador is right

Abdullah Al Alami*

May 29, 2024

 

Saudi Arabia’s total non-oil exports reached 277 billion riyals. This is a good indicator as the Kingdom continues its economic diversification efforts so that non-oil activities will contribute 50% to the country’s real GDP in 2030.

Let me provide a few examples. Saudi Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated companies in the field of energy and chemicals, signed an agreement with Pascal, the global leader in neutral atomic quantum computing, to install the first quantum computer in the Kingdom.

How does oil fit in all this? Experts believe the Kingdom would reach about 750 billion riyals in non-oil commodity exports by 2030, and probably exceed one trillion riyals by 2035. Furthermore, the Saudi economy has achieved more promising results as Riyadh succeeded in its non-oil wealth, such as gold, copper, phosphate, and other minerals, which amounted to 9.4 trillion riyals.

Neil Crompton, the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, revealed that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested 21 billion pounds sterling (about 100 billion riyals) in the United Kingdom during the past four years. These investments were allocated to infrastructure and advanced technology.

His Excellency the Ambassador is right, the Saudi economy has achieved remarkable gains in foreign direct investment reaching 2.4% as a percentage of the gross domestic product in 2023. Also, Saudi Arabia has attracted about 200 international companies who plan to move their regional headquarters to Riyadh. The incentives are clear; the value of the Public Investment Fund managed assets reached 2.81 trillion riyals during 2023. Furthermore, Riyadh is keen to target about 36 thousand factories by 2030 and to finance small and medium enterprises with about 10 billion riyals.

In short, Saudi Arabia has achieved several major gains that contributed to enhancing opportunities for Saudi youth in preparation for the post-vision phase. I hope His Excellency the British Ambassador will also convey the message that Saudis are qualified with the latest specializations and modern programs to add qualitative value to the Saudi economy, along with knowledge and technological intelligence in preparation for the upcoming challenges.

 

*Saudi writer

Revitalizing the economy and tourism in Bahrain

Abdullah Al Alami*

Saturday, March 16, 2024

 

I present the most important recent developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the fields of economy and tourism. 

First, the state succeeded in encouraging local and international companies to generate investments worth $2.4 billion into the national economy.

Second, since the announcement of granting the golden license to strategic projects operating in the Kingdom in April 2023, the number of companies benefiting from this feature has reached 9 major projects that contribute to the creation of 3,000 job opportunities.

Among other factors that helped achieve good results, Bahrain’s gross domestic product grew from $9.6 billion to $44.4 billion between 2002 and 2022.

Bahrain continues to diversify its non-oil economy, such as opening a large solar energy plant and developing financial services which contribute 18.1 percent to the real GDP.

As for tourism, there were concerns due to the lack of new tourist packages, low hotel occupancy rates, and the fate of the medical tourism plan. However, Bahrain is marketing initiatives to attract Gulf and foreign visitors. There is no doubt that tour packages will have a significant impact on stimulating the economy and supporting the initiatives that attract tourists from all over the world.

Furthermore, Manama is developing and adopting new marketing strategies, facilitating the issuance of visas, and activating sustainability practices and financial mechanisms to enhance tourism growth regionally and internationally. There is no doubt that this trend will help create more job opportunities, support innovation, and provide specialized expertise in the tourism sector. Among the upcoming programs, is the development of the master plan for the Al Areen project and Sitra Market. The plan is to attract 40,000 tourists to Bahrain from around the world during the period from November 2024 to April 2025.

 

* Saudi writer and president of the Arab Society for Human Resource Management