Empowering women for a prosperous and healthy planet on International Women’s Day

Special Empowering women for a prosperous and healthy planet on International Women’s Day
Working toward gender equality is viewed as an essential part of the effort to eliminate poverty. (Reuters)
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Updated 07 March 2024
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Empowering women for a prosperous and healthy planet on International Women’s Day

Empowering women for a prosperous and healthy planet on International Women’s Day
  • Gender equality is viewed as an essential part of the effort to eliminate poverty and transition to greener economies
  • Despite progress, experts say women continue to bear the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis and labor market disruptions

DUBAI: Although the Arab world has a long way to go before it achieves gender parity, recent reforms in Saudi Arabia have already transformed women’s participation in the labor force, business and leadership, while promoting economic growth and sustainable development.

The pursuit of gender equality as a way of fostering prosperous economies and a healthy planet is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, the UN’s annual day to celebrate the empowerment of women and girls.

“There’s no country on the planet that has taken such dramatic action and where there is such dramatic change for the betterment of women,” Maria Al-Zahrani, a Saudi-American resident of Riyadh who works as a consultant for WeBuild Ventures, told Arab News.

Achieving gender parity and tapping the full potential of women and girls is a fundamental part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 social reform and economic diversification plan, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“Our critics can pontificate all they want, but numbers don’t lie,” said Al-Zahrani. “Women now represent more than 36 percent of the labor force.”




The pursuit of gender equality as a way of fostering prosperous economies and a healthy planet. (Saudi Green Initiative)

In 2019, Saudi Arabia implemented reforms that allowed women to travel abroad independently, to register for marriage or divorce, and apply for official documents without the permission of a male guardian.

Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s minister of economy, said that the Kingdom had consequently witnessed a significant rise in female participation in the private sector.

“Gender equality is a cornerstone of our commitment to sustainable development,” he told the Human Capability Initiative in Riyadh in February. “Increasing female representation is a critical macro-goal supported by a multitude of initiatives.

“Women now hold 20 percent of seats in the Saudi Shoura Council and key positions in ministries and governmental bodies. Twenty-nine percent of middle and senior private sector management positions are held by women, and 45 percent of SMEs in the Kingdom are female-led.”

Marriam Mossalli is a living example of this transformation.

“Women control more than $31.8 trillion in worldwide spending and actually spend more than men daily,” Mossalli, a Saudi entrepreneur and founder of communications agency Niche Arabia, told Arab News.

Mossalli recently launched C-Suite Advisory — a business consultancy that helps start-ups and international firms with investment and Gulf Cooperation Council market entry strategies. She wants to see many more women breaking into business.

“We need more women in leadership positions,” she said. “And that’s why I’m personally investing in female-owned businesses that share similar values, which is why I’ve come on with Powder Beauty — the region’s first dedicated clean beauty platform.”

Basmah Abdulaziz Al-Mayman, Middle East region director for the UN World Tourism Organization, believes the development of the region’s tourism industry in particular has offered women opportunities for economic participation and advancement.




Women now represent more than 36 percent of the labor force. (AFP)

“Although the proportion of women engaged with the tourism sector in the Arab world is still low,” Al-Mayman told Arab News, “there is hope that it will improve, especially that some progress toward gender equality in the sector has been observed, particularly in the public sector where concrete policy actions have begun to bear fruit and the representation of women in leadership roles has increased toward similar levels seen globally.”

In 2020, UNWTO and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism jointly published the Regional Report on Women in Tourism in the Middle East to mark the Saudi G20 presidency.

The report examined opportunities and challenges for women across areas considered key for women’s empowerment: Employment, entrepreneurship, education and training. It also examined leadership, decision- and policy-making, and community.

“Tourism has long been viewed as an engine of women’s economic empowerment more than other sectors in the economy,” Al-Mayman said.

“Tourism can provide more opportunities for women’s participation in the labor force, in entrepreneurship and in women’s leadership. As such, the tourism sector can make important contributions to the achievement of SDG5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as to the gender-related targets and other sustainable pool areas.”

Al-Mayman said that Arab governments had a crucial role to play “in creating this more equitable world through deliberate change and actions to more inclusively ensure that women and marginalized groups have access to resources, support and opportunity.”

Working toward gender equality is viewed as an essential part of the effort to eliminate poverty, to boost gender-responsive financing, transition to greener economies, and to support female change-makers.




Rana Almimoni, a 30-year-old Saudi motor racing enthusiast, poses for a picture at Dirab motor park, on the outskirts Riyadh. (AFP)

It is important to note however that no country in the world has achieved gender parity, according to the Global Green Growth Initiative. One region that still has quite a way to go is the Middle East and North Africa.

The Arab world has the second-widest gender gap in the world after South Asia, as measured by the Gender Development Index, with women lagging behind in income and labor participation.

As a result of such gender inequalities, women and girls in Arab countries have on average achieved 14.4 percent less than men in measures of human development over the past 20 years.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, in comparison with other regions, the Middle East and North Africa remains the furthest from parity, with a 62.6 percent parity score.

This represents a 0.9 percentage-point decline in parity since the last edition of the report for the region, based on the constant sample of countries covered since 2006.

INNUMBERS

• 2nd Arab states have the second-widest gender gap in the world. (GDI)

• 131 How many years it will take to achieve global gender parity (WEF).

• <50 percent Women active in the global labor market, compared to 72 percent of men (IMF).

According to the report, the UAE at 71.2 percent, Israel at 70 percent and Bahrain at 66.6 percent have achieved the highest parity in the region, while five countries, led by Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, have increased their parity by 0.5 percent or more.

And yet, according to the UN, the region as a whole has progressed at a far slower rate than the global average over the past decade. It says gender inequalities are preventing the Arab world from fulfilling the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Of course, the mission to achieve gender parity goes well beyond the Arab region. It is a major international concern.




A Saudi conductor drives a high-speed train ferrying pilgrims to Makkah. (AFP)

According to the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, the global gap has closed by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous year. Based on this rate of progress, parity will only be achieved in the year 2154 — the same forecast in WEF’s 2022 report.

The little progress that was made was due to improvements in education, with 117 out of 146 indexed countries now having closed at least 95 percent of the gap. The economic participation and opportunity gap also saw progress, closing by 60.1 percent.

However, according to the International Monetary Fund, less than half of women are actively part of the global labor market, compared to 72 percent of men. This has a direct impact on issues such as poverty reduction and nutrition.

A quarter of women and girls worldwide are expected to be moderately or severely food insecure by 2030, according to the UN. If gender gaps in agri-food systems are closed, this could reduce food insecurity and boost global gross domestic product by $1 trillion.

“While there have been encouraging signs of recovery to pre-pandemic levels, women continue to bear the brunt of the current cost-of-living crisis and labor market disruptions,” Saadia Zahidi, WEF managing director, said in the report.

A global economic rebound will require “the full power of creativity and diverse ideas and skills,” she said. “We cannot afford to lose momentum on women’s economic participation and opportunity.”




An employee checks merchandize at a hypermarket in Jeddah. (AFP)

While there is still undoubtedly a long way to go, even for the region’s most proactive nations such as Saudi Arabia, International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to take stock of how far women’s empowerment has come in a relatively short space of time.

Just five years ago, “you would hardly see women working anywhere,” said Al-Zahrani, the Riyadh-based consultant.

“Then all of a sudden they were working at hotels, working in stores at the mall, driving. I never thought I’d be so proud to see women at the grocery store taking customer payments at the checkout counters.

“I’m proud of our leadership and I am proud of what they’ve done for everyone to create a more productive and prosperous future for the country.”


Jouf’s camping sites highlight spring tourism

Jouf’s camping sites highlight spring tourism
Updated 32 sec ago
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Jouf’s camping sites highlight spring tourism

Jouf’s camping sites highlight spring tourism

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has designated eight spring camping sites in areas of Jouf.

These, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday, are Rahiya, Hadib National Park, Al-Rasif, Al-Yatima, Al-Mahta, Al-Athath, Al-Adhra’, and Laijah National Park.

Popular for wilderness tourism, these sites attract visitors with natural landscapes, early spring blooms such as lavender and buttercup, as well as truffle hunting.

Camping in Jouf is a prominent social winter activity, fostering connections and celebrating the region’s vibrant post-rain spring landscapes, SPA reported.

Local wilderness enthusiast Bilal Al-Khalidi highlighted weekend camping as a cherished pastime, with groups traveling in adventure-ready vehicles and dividing tasks such as transporting tents and cooking equipment.

Once at the site, campers set up tents, prepare Saudi coffee and tea, hike, and collect wild aromatic plants, he said, adding that evenings are dedicated to dinner and overnight stays, while mornings begin with flatbread cooked over charcoal.


Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on healthcare facility in Sudan

Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on healthcare facility in Sudan
Updated 6 min 53 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on healthcare facility in Sudan

Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on healthcare facility in Sudan
  • A drone attack on Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in Al-Fasher has killed 70 people
  • It was not clear which of Sudan's warring sides had launched the attack

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday the drone attack on a Saudi-run hospital in El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region.
A drone attack on Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in the besieged town in western Sudan has killed 70 people and wounded 19 others, the World Health Organization said.
The Kingdom described the attack as a “violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”
“The Kingdom reiterated its rejection of these violations and emphasized the critical need to protect health and humanitarian workers,” read the foreign ministry statement.
It called for practice of “self-restraint” and avoidance of “targeting civilians.”
The Kingdom also called for adherence to the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

It was not clear which of Sudan's warring sides had launched the attack.

The conflict in Sudan has unleashed a humanitarian disaster of epic proportions.

Tens of thousands have been killed and over 12 million people have been uprooted.


Winter treasures: Truffle hunting in Northern Borders desert

Winter treasures: Truffle hunting in Northern Borders desert
Updated 26 January 2025
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Winter treasures: Truffle hunting in Northern Borders desert

Winter treasures: Truffle hunting in Northern Borders desert
  • Truffle season coincides with the rainy period from late winter to early spring
  • Truffles’ unique flavor enhances the taste of dishes

RAFHA: Truffle hunting in the Northern Borders region is an annual activity that combines the thrill of discovery with the beauty of heritage, attracting nature and heritage enthusiasts who embark on sunrise journeys in search of these prized delicacies.

The Saudi Press Agency accompanied a group of enthusiasts in Al-Sahin area, where they gathered truffles in a tranquil desert setting, enjoying the scent of rain mingling with the earth and flora. This experience highlights the deep connection between natural heritage and local culture.

The truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage. (SPA)

Enthusiasts use traditional knowledge to interpret soil and plant indicators, identifying potential truffle sites. Using simple tools that reflect humanity’s connection to the environment, they employ long sticks to shift the soil and uncover hidden treasures.

Others use their hands to gently remove the surface layer without damaging the truffles, while bags and baskets are prepared for collection.

Types of truffles in KSA
• Zubaidi stands out for its round shape
• Khalasi is the smallest and has an irregular shape
• Jabbi is small and round
• Hooper is the most irregular in shape

 

The truffle season coincides with the rainy period from late winter to early spring, usually beginning in January and lasting until the end of March. During the rainy season in Saudi Arabia, the rainfall enriches the soil and activates truffle seeds, with growth rates varying. Some truffles require 50 to 70 days of rain, while others take less time.

Truffles are wild fungi that grow beneath the surface at different depths, depending on the complex interaction of soil, moisture, and surrounding plants.

They thrive in well-ventilated sandy or clay soil, exhibiting signs such as slight cracks or small lumps when ripe.

Among the various types, the zubaidi stands out for its round shape, while the irregularly shaped khalasi is the smallest. The jabbi is small and round, while the tiny hooper is the most irregular in shape.

he truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage. (SPA)

Truffles are celebrated for their unique flavor that enhances the taste of dishes. The truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage, fostering social bonds and revitalizing an age-old tradition passed down through generations.

As interest in this heritage activity grows, there is an increasing recognition of the need to educate future generations on preserving the environment and the desert landscapes, which are integral to this land’s cultural heritage. The truffle season is a testament to the splendor of nature and the importance of heritage.


Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah

Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
Updated 25 January 2025
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Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah

Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
  • More than 500 historic items, contemporary artworks on display
  • 1685 Nile map’s journey to Jeddah a ‘cultural milestone’

JEDDAH: A six-meter map of the Nile believed to be more than 300 years old has left its home in the Vatican archives for the first time to become the centerpiece of the second Islamic Arts Biennale launched in Jeddah on Saturday.

Visitors to Jeddah’s Western Hajj Terminal, the biennale venue, can see the map along with 10 other artifacts from the Vatican Library.

The historic chart, drawn with watercolor ink on Venetian paper and depicting historic sites along the Nile, has been dated to around 1685.

Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations. (Supplied)

Its inclusion in the biennale marks a cultural milestone, showcasing the Vatican’s commitment to interreligious and intercultural dialogue, according to Vatican archivist and librarian Angelo Vincenzo Zani.

The map underwent restoration by the Vatican before making the journey to Jeddah. It is displayed alongside a sister map of the Arabian Gulf from the National Library of Qatar.

Both maps are believed to have been acquired in the 1700s in Constantinople by Giuseppe Alemanni, a Lebanese librarian who later became the Vatican Library’s prefect.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the exhibition in Jeddah explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.

• More than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.

Zani attended the biennale’s opening ceremony and later told Arab News that the artifacts highlight a rich history of cultural exchange and shared knowledge.

The Islamic Arts Biennale features more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world. (Supplied)

“I think this Islamic Arts Biennale is very important. The concept of art is very important — to expand knowledge and creativity. Art is an emotion that we can all understand. It can cross over in a dialogue that is ‘in between’.”

The 2025 biennale’s theme, “And all that is in between,” draws from the Qur’anic verse “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between.”

The Vatican Library is also showcasing several works from its collections in “The Art of Numbers” display at Al-Madar section of the biennale.

Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations. (Supplied)

Al-Madar, or “The Orbit” section, features items from 20 institutions with significant Islamic art collections worldwide.

The section examines the role of numbers in collective history, exploring their origins in natural calculations and applications across Islamic culture, mathematics, architecture, music, design, celestial and terrestrial mapping, ocean navigation, trade and geometric patterns in Qur’anic decoration.

Heather Ecker, Al-Madar’s curator, said the Vatican Library, which was established in the Middle Ages, is the oldest taking part in Al-Madar.

The Islamic Arts Biennale will run in Jeddah until may 25. (Supplied)

“The Vatican has Arabic manuscripts on virtually any subject, and has a large collection of early Qur’ans. It has early translations of the Qur’an, of which we are exhibiting several,” she said.

Ecker said the Nile map appears to have been linked to a travel log and is a visual record of a journey.

“The maps were created from the written text and from memory, apparently,” she said.

The Islamic Arts Biennale features more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world. (Supplied)

“It’s not a map as we conceive it, because it is image with text, with annotations that correspond to observations made during the voyage and notes taken. It collapses geography in a certain way, so it scrunches up the land between the Nile and the Red Sea, for example, in order to include more sites such as Jeddah.”

The map has been in the Vatican since the late 18th century, but had never been restored and was first shown in 2021, Ecker said. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation helped fund its restoration and conservation.

“It’s much brighter now,” Ecker said. “The paper is much more supple now, so it’s really vastly improved, and it’s much easier to exhibit and for people to appreciate. That was a big undertaking, and important in the field of conservation preservation.”

Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Jeddah exhibition explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.

The event has built on the success of the first biennale, and is bigger in scale and ambition, Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the foundation, told Arab News.

This year, more than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.

“The biennale is rooted in Saudi Arabia and has become a clear landmark on the international stage as well. We are excited to share this exhibition with audiences from near and far,” Al-Bakree added.

Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations.

The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 attracted more than 600,000 visitors. The 2025 edition will feature more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world.

The 2025 curatorial team is led by Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Saudi artist Muhannad Shono as curator of contemporary art.

The Islamic Arts Biennale will run until May 25.

 


Saudi minister emphasizes Islamic unity at Khair Ummah conference in Bangkok

Saudi minister emphasizes Islamic unity at Khair Ummah conference in Bangkok
Updated 25 January 2025
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Saudi minister emphasizes Islamic unity at Khair Ummah conference in Bangkok

Saudi minister emphasizes Islamic unity at Khair Ummah conference in Bangkok
  • Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh calls on scholars, preachers to ‘reinforce core principles of Islamic faith’
  • Kingdom committed to fostering a culture of coexistence, cooperation among Muslims, forum told

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Minister Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh inaugurated the third Khair Ummah conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bangkok on Saturday.

The event was attended by Thai National Assembly President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, along with several ministers, muftis, and leaders of Islamic universities, centers, and associations.

Al-Asheikh emphasized that the conference aimed to strengthen Islamic unity and adherence to the truth, promoting solidarity that upholds Islamic identity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Central Islamic Council of Thailand awarded Al-Asheikh with the First-Class Medal for Influential Global Islamic Personalities in 2024. (SPA)

He said that scholars bear a significant responsibility in light of global challenges and the intellectual, political, social, and security changes facing the world.

“This situation calls for a real response from scholars and researchers to clarify the right religious stance against sedition and to reinforce the core principles of the Islamic faith,” Al-Asheikh said.

He added that the responsibility of scholars and preachers is growing due to global calls for intellectual and ideological deviation, requiring careful reflection to realign efforts, uphold Shariah, safeguard the Prophet’s Sunnah, promote Islamic values, and combat extremism.

Al-Asheikh reaffirmed that under its leadership, the Kingdom has diligently fulfilled its responsibility toward the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites.

“Saudi Arabia is committed to serving pilgrims, visitors, and Umrah performers by implementing substantial projects that enhance their experience and facilitate their rituals. The Kingdom is also dedicated to printing and distributing the Holy Qur’an in multiple languages worldwide,” he said.

Several participants delivered speeches thanking Saudi Arabia for its service to Islam and Muslims, emphasizing the importance of promoting tolerance, combating violence and extremism, and fostering cooperation among Muslims.

Meanwhile, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand awarded Al-Asheikh the First-Class Medal for Influential Global Islamic Personality of 2024. The medal was presented by Bangkok Islamic Affairs Committee President Arun Boonchom.

The award recognized Al-Asheikh’s distinguished contributions to serving Islam, promoting moderation and tolerance, and combating hate speech and extremism, SPA reported.

Al-Asheikh expressed his gratitude to the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand for his efforts in spreading noble Islamic values and fostering a culture of coexistence.