News Archives • Page 9 of 14 • Middle East 24/7

Saudi Imposes New Rules for Female Workers in the Kingdom

Following the news of the Kingdom allowing women to travel abroad without approval from a male guardian, a number of other momentous decisions regarding women have also come about to support women’s rights.

The new set of rules aims to treat male and female workers in the country at an equal level. In accordance to this, both men and women will now be considered as workers/people working for an employer and under his or her management and supervision in return for a wage, even if they are not within sight.

Saudi Arabia Passes New Rules for Women in the Workforce

According to a report in the Saudi Gazette, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in Saudi Arabia, through the amendment in the labour regulation will not allow the employers and ruling entities to discriminate between workers on the basis of their age, disability and gender.

This rule also extends to hiring people for jobs and advertising vacancies for employment.

Furthermore, Saudi officials have also nullified the retirement age rule- 60 years for men and 55 years for women. The authority, this time, has provided that the retirement of the workers would be in tandem with the requirements of the social insurance rules and regulations.

In addition to this, the regulations also forbid the employers from terminating the services of female employees or issuing them the notices of dismissal from their jobs, while they are on their maternity leaves. Female employees also cannot be issued any kind of warning letters or get terminated in case they fall ill due to pregnancy-induced conditions or a health concern at the time of delivery.

However, the illness must be attested, by means of securing an authentic medical report and the employee’s absence from work should not be over 180 days- whether continuous or intermittent.

The rule which now allows Saudi women to travel abroad without approval from a male guardian was met with jubilation and much support on social media, gaining traction with the hashtag, “No guardianship over women travel”.

The said reform grants women greater autonomy and mobility, and has been described by media outlets as “one giant leap for Saudi women”.

Things are really turning for the better for Saudi women in the last two years or so, as observed by international human rights advocates, but still there is more to be done – and this is just the start.

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Saudi Women Hails New Reform for Personal ‘Freedom’

In a series of major government reforms passed in recent years, things are looking more hopeful for the women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a new rule announced on Friday (August 2), now allows women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport without authorisation, putting them on an equal footing to men.

In line with this, the new rule also gives women the right to register births, marriage or divorce. The amendment according to citizens allows women to enjoy travelling independently just “like all citizens”.

Saudi Women Welcomes New ‘Freedom’ through Passing of New Law

The kingdom, in recent time, has eased other long-standing social restrictions on women, though campaigners are convinced that plenty more remains to be done for women’s rights, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

According to Leila Almaeena, Saudi national and a leadership coach based in Dubai, the decision did not come as a surprise to her since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has taken charge under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Almaeena shared, “They have truly raised the status of Saudi women and the historic changes they have brought about in such a less time have empowered us to reach international levels. From all the fantastic changes that we have been experiencing for the past year or so, I knew this was in the works. It was a natural progression I feel.”

But more than Saudi women living outside the country, Almaeena noted that it would help the women living in conservative families in the kingdom, who have not yet experienced freedom of being independent without their male guardians.

The kingdom has increasingly come under the microscope over its treatment of its female citizens, an issue highlighted by several high-profile cases of Saudi women seeking asylum overseas.

In the past, women had to gain approval from a male guardian in order to obtain a passport. Women who did not have a passport of their own were instead given a page in their male guardians’ passports – making it impossible for them to travel without a guardian, whenever they want to.

Alongside this important new rule, other changes now allow women to register a marriage, divorce or child’s birth and to be issued official family documents. The new rule also stipulates that a father or mother can be legal guardians of children.

ALSO READ: Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in Kingdom

Saudi Nationals Express Interest in Learning Korean Language

As unique and conservative as Saudi culture is, there’s no doubt that the international media is a force to be reckoned with, because cultural influences from other parts of the world such as South Korea have now reached the Kingdom and is becoming a popular topic among nationals.

This is certainly a welcome trend because as countries become more known internationally, the reason to learn more about their culture now makes sense, and this includes the country’s language. And gaining a new skill such as a communicating a new language is such a great idea not only for Saudis, but even for other nationalities as this will open more opportunities for them personally and professionally.

Korean Language ‘Hangeul’ Draws Interest from Saudi Nationals

In line with this, as the massive popularity of Korean culture has now reached a variety of audience all over the world and even in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spawning interest in the Korean language as an appealing language to learn, many Saudis are joining the growing crowd of enthusiasts, as shared in a report by the Arab News.

There is a number of reasons why Saudis want to learn Korean: to enjoy watching their favourite shows in the original language; to visit and experience the culture of Korea personally; or even to move to South Korea in the future.

According to Korean language instructor Myung Hee Park from the Korean International School in Jeddah, most of her students loved K-pop and Korean dramas, and they wanted to expand their knowledge by learning the language.

People from all over the Kingdom are traveling to Korea to attend concerts and to see their favourite artists perform live.

Myung shared, “Lots of the people who come to learn from me have an experience of visiting Korea and enjoying concerts by artists such as BTS, Monsta X or SM Town.”

Of note, Saudi’s appreciation of Korea does not stop at entertainment, as some of Myung’s students have expressed interest in studying in South Korea, as well.

In November of last year, 51 people participated in the first Ambassador’s Cup Korean Speech competition, held at the official residence of the South Korean ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jo Byung-wook. The competition was organized to promote the country’s culture, language and heritage.

According to the Korean ambassador, “The growing interest in learning the Korean language in Saudi Arabia shows the strength of our bilateral relations.”

He also pointed out that Korean is the 20th most spoken language in the world, and is gaining popularity as the second foreign language across Asia, the US and even the Middle East.

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A First: UAE Gets Single-Letter Government Domain

With a series of smart initiatives set in the pipeline for governments in the UAE, the national government has launched a new move that will not only set apart the country from the rest of the world, but also strengthen its commitment in providing accessible and timely services to its residents – of course, still through the use of the Internet.

With just a few clicks, government services and information on the state can now be accessed by those who have a need for them because now, the government’s official portal is “literally” just a few keys away!

UAE Becomes World’s First Nation to Use Single-Letter Gov’t Domain

The UAE government has launched the new domain name of its official portal to become the first government domain in the world composed of only a single letter (U), to facilitate the public access to information, services, projects, strategies and laws in the UAE, as shared in a report by WAM.

The new domain was established in cooperation between The Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

Of note, the first letter (U) of the country will be the domain name, while the second and third letters are composed of the UAE’s country code Top Level Domain “.ae”.

The official portal of the UAE government is a comprehensive platform where all government services and information, as well as important data and information related to vital sectors in the UAE, including education, economy, business, infrastructure, residency regulations, health, national policies and strategies, and others, can be accessed.

Commenting on the new initiative, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General said, “The new domain name of the UAE Government portal embodies the meaning of innovation, which is simple and easy to remember. It also reflects the centrality of the people in the government’s concerns with its various projects, programmes and plans. The adoption of the new domain name comes at an important stage of the digital transformation, in which we enter the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the smart city, and the government of Artificial Intelligence.”

He also noted that through the guidance of the UAE’s national leaders, the nation has adopted a culture of innovation and creativity as a way to assert the country’s leadership and the community’s happiness.

The TRA Directors also pointed out that that the most important message of the new domain name is the focus on people.

Al Mansoori emphasized that the new initiative sends an important message from the UAE leadership that you are the goal, you are the purpose, you are the bet, you are the government, and you are the United Arab Emirates.

Through the u.ae portal, the nation embraces the digital age tells the world that the people are the ultimate goal of the UAE Government – the people in the broad sense of participation, tolerance, peace, prosperity, happiness, well-being, and sustainable development. Al Mansoori pointed out that the “u.ae” mission is that we are all our partners in future-making.

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Prison in Saudi Arabia Offers Rehab to Prisoners via Entertainment Programmes

Prison in Saudi Arabia Offers Rehabilitation to Prisoners with Entertainment Programmes

Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia have been widely known to impose strict punishments to violators of the law, even with the most severe of them all – capital punishment, which still exists until this day.

And while legalities and practices vary from one country to another, there are some places which take a different approach than what has been traditionally prescribed by the law. This coincides with the belief that punishment must only be corrective, but not rehabilitative – a problem faced by prison facilities as the number of prisoners continues to go up.

Entertainment Programs Among Rehab Efforts Provided by Saudi Prison

However, a Saudi prison provides inmates with entertainment programs to help rehabilitate them into society, as shared in a report by the Saudi Gazette.

Jeddah’s Briman Prison has entered a partnership with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) to provide detainees a range of programs aimed at rehabilitation which include theatre, music, and other forms of entertainment. The programs also offer an opportunity to take part in the prison’s activities and performances are available to the inmates’ families.

This initiative is part of the kingdom’s rehabilitative efforts to give care for the inmates and help them restore their function and productivity in society.

As per the website of Saudi Ministry of Interior, “The General Directorate of Prisons is fully aware of the important role it has in the area of rehabilitation and care that inmates require. There is no doubt that the programs of training, rehabilitation and employment of prisoners play a key role in the success of this reform policy.”

For his part, GEA’s chair Turki Al Al-Sheikh explained that the program is also part of the Saudi Vision 2030, stating that 2019 is the year of entertainment, with new live shows and performances in the kingdom.

Under this vision, the activities of the prison, in accordance with the program of the Interior Ministry, also include thiqah (confidence) program, aimed to help prisoners about to be released to prepare them to normal lives as free men.

While unorthodox, the move by Saudi authorities also addresses the need for detainees to reintegrate into society after they have served prison time for the crimes that they have committed, considering the fact that prison space is getting crowded, and budget to sustain such facilities also wear down on the kingdom’s economy.

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Here are the Booming Job Sectors in UAE, Saudi Arabia

As countries in the Middle East such as the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are moving away from its heavy dependence on their oil industries, people are now wondering which industries will take over in these historically petrol-dependent nations in the region.

You may have certain guesses, especially when you’ve been following the news in the region, but to be objective about it, let us take a look at the numbers and let them do the talking.

Get to Know the Emerging Top Industries in UAE, Saudi Arabia

According to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI), technology and tourism jobs in Saudi Arabia saw significant growth in the second quarter of 2019.

In general, the kingdom has registered a 13 percent growth in online job postings in Q2 compared to the same period last year.

The growth in these industries was led by the IT and Telecom/ISP industry and occupations in Hospitality, which registered growth of 29 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

This growth in online hiring is expected to persist as the kingdom rapidly transforms almost every sector with cutting-edge technology, Monster shared in a statement.

Similarly, recent research by KPMG also projects that the hospitality sector is expected to grow by 4,000 rooms, equating to 35 percent, by 2023.

Based on the results of MEI’s Q2 survey, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Marketing (including Advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media and Entertainment), and Oil and Gas have registered growth at 16 percent, 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Of note, retail was the only industry to register a decline, falling 5 percent from the numbers posted in Q2 of last year.

Regionally, Monster acknowledged the UAE’s steady growth at 18 percent ahead of its neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia and then Kuwait at 10 percent. Oman was the only nation to show a slight drop in online hiring with a 4 percent decline from Q2 2018.

Industries in the UAE which registered growth in the Q2 MEI were Production (including Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary) at 12 percent, along with Oil and Gas, and IT and Telecom/ISP at 8 percent each. Meanwhile, Engineering, Construction and Real Estate registered the largest decline with a fall of 19 percent from Q2 2018.

In terms of sectoral growth in the region, the IT and Telecom industry posted stellar numbers of growth, going up by 18 percent from the same period last year, followed by Retail, Trade and Logistics at 7 percent.

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Dubai Gov’t Launches Green Transport Initiative with 94 Eco-friendly Buses

With the oil crisis that has hit the region during the last decade, many governments in the Middle East have shifted their attention in growing their infrastructures and invested on industries that have the potential to further boost their country’s economy in the future.

Similarly, as countries such as the UAE moves away from its dependence on oil reserves, processes and technologies have also followed this trend because the UAE government has now invested on green technology such as solar farms and now – green transportation.

Gulf Air Appoints First Bahraini Woman to Lead African Arm

The Middle East is seeing an important transition from its traditionally male-centric society, which is heavily seen in countries such as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

With laws and advocacies now focused on gender equality, more opportunities are being opened to women, even in professions which were traditionally assigned to men. And this is a very good thing because as most of these countries are heavily committed to their nationalisation programmes, giving women a chance to work in their field of expertise or passion.

First Bahraini Woman Appointed to Lead Gulf Air Operations in Africa

In relation to this, Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has appointed its first local female country manager earlier this month, as shared in a report by Bahrain Today.

The airline has named Shams Al Doseri to manage its Addis Ababa station in Ethiopia, making her the first Bahraini woman to run a Gulf Air station.

Doseri first started as a sales executive at the company, and has eight years of airline sales experience under her belt with Gulf Air. For her appointment, she expressed gratitude to the airline for believing in her capacity to strengthen its growth in Africa.

In a statement, Doseri shared, “I am very proud and delighted to take this challenge and be the first Bahraini woman in Gulf Air to represent the national carrier outside the Kingdom. I will not only promote my airline but also promote my beloved country to the world by encouraging more passengers to fly Gulf Air to or via Bahrain.”

For its part, Gulf Air has expressed commitment to invest in Bahrain locals of any gender, providing opportunity for their talents and career development in its various areas of operation. Bahrainis comprise around 90 percent of its workforce, and 70 percent of their pilots are locals as well.

This is a positive affirmation that the work of the governments in the Middle East are changing the landscape of labour and employment, where skills and talents take precedence over gender and societal rigidities that have long governed many of its nations in the past.

As these countries move forward towards this important period and change, residents and global citizens will continue to hope and show support in these nations’ endeavour in the future, and even consider lending assistance through sharing best practices and benchmarking to promote gender equality and inclusivity in the workforce and then the society, at large.

ALSO READ: Saudi Fund Invests on Women Empowerment in Kingdom

Saudi Arabia Introduces Special Website for Qatari Hajj Pilgrims

August will mark a special time for Muslims all over the world as this is related to the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, known as hajj.

That being said, movement is expected among pilgrims in the region and from the rest of the world. However, with the on-going tension happening in the Middle East, involving key countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, even religious practices such as the annual pilgrimage to Mecca are being affected as early as now.

Saudi Launches New Website for Qatari Hajj Pilgrims

In preparation for the hajj, Saudi Arabia has set up a special website to facilitate Qatari Hajj pilgrims this year – after Qatari authorities have reportedly blocked electronic links, hindering their citizens from applying for Hajj, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

As per the instruction by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the ministry of Haj and Umrah has completed all necessary arrangements to serve Qataris intending to perform Hajj this year, through a special website to enable them to register their data and choose the service that suits their needs.

In line with this, ministry authorities called on Qatari authorities to stop blocking electronic or online links, and, instead cooperate with Saudi Arabia to enable their citizens to perform Haj comfortably, as part of their commitment to the faith.

Furthermore, Qatari pilgrims can now book Umrah packages upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia, and will not to have to do so while in Qatar or online.

Qatari pilgrims will be able to do this at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport which is the main port of entry for most of them.

The decision to open new avenues for Qatari pilgrims to perform Hajj this year, reflects the Kingdom’s openness to welcome Qatari nationals to perform pilgrimages to the Kingdom, even as there’s a diplomatic rift between the two nations.

In Islam, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform it at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage is seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and start anew. Many seek to deepen their faith through the Hajj, with women taking on the Islamic hair covering known as “hijab” upon returning from this journey.

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NatGeo to Feature Abu Dhabi’s Local Environmental Reserves

Abu Dhabi is one of the most visited destinations in the country, mainly for its historic and touristic offerings. However, not much is known about the UAE capital’s position when it comes to its environmental significance in the region.

And as the UAE is looking to boost tourism in lieu of its dependence in the oil sector, there could be no better way to introduce a place than for its natural beauty and environmental uniqueness. Fortunately, the local government is attuned to these kinds of opportunities, and at the same time, has provided a good environment for its residents to protect and at the same time enjoy these offerings that are unique to the rest of the region.

Abu Dhabi Local Environment to be Featured on National Geographic

In light of this, Abu Dhabi is set to take the spotlight in a new documentary series which aims to showcase the environmental richness of the UAE, as shared in a report by Arabian Business.

Among the exciting features to watch out for is the natural habitat of the endangered Hawksbill and Green turtles, four globally threatened species of shark, three threatened species of ray and around 240 species of fish, which are all unique to the UAE capital.

The five-part documentary series, which was produced in coordination ion with National Geographic Abu Dhabi and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), will take viewers on a journey across various protected areas within Capital.

Titled ‘Explore Your Environment,’ the five-part docu-series will give the viewers a closer look at the aforementioned marine habitats as well as the 400 plant species and three million migrating birds, which pass through Abu Dhabi every year.

Presented by Emirati explorer and conservationist Fahood Taymour, the series consists of 2-minute videos. Stops include both well-known tourist sites such as Jebal Hafit National Park as well as lesser-traveled locations such as Bu Tinah Island in the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, a 130km ride from Abu Dhabi’s coast. Other stops include the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and Al Ghada Protected Area.

Truly, the show will be a journey through some of the most interesting yet hidden areas in the Capital. Highlighted by Fahood’s unique story-telling, viewers will be captivated and at the same time be made aware to the environment and biodiversity locally, as he encourages them to take small steps to cut down on pollution and fish for less vulnerable fish species.

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