As Saudi Arabia’s economy moves away from oil the country grows closer to women
Photo: Unsplasch.com
Saudi Arabia was ever known for two things: oil and Wahhabism. Founded almost a century ago it built itself on religious foundations that made it a reference in the Islamic world. With Mecca, the holiest city in Islam and Medina, the second holiest city in Islam, being at the center of the religious discourse, Saudi Arabia quickly situated itself as the ultimate conservative and deeply religious Islamic Kingdom. It wanted to be known as such; built its tourism sector around it and invited pilgrims from around the world to visit its Islamic holy cities. But religion was not only a cultural reference and a tourist plan, it was also a social foundation and restrictions. It maintained such a wanted association for a long time, with little being shown about the Kingdom while making sure that society was kept on auto-pilot, wanting for nothing, and living on the riches of abundance. This however was all possible because the Kingdom, being a rentier state and running an economy exclusively based on oil, was capable of funding, abundantly, such a rhetoric. By controlling oil production through ARAMCO, the monarchy was also capable of controlling the country’s economy singlehandedly. Oil is a matter of national security to most countries and Saudi Arabia, considered the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and one of the founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), accounts for 10% of the global oil supply. Not only is the oil a guarantee card within the Kingdom to maintain stability, cash flow, and the rule of law, but it is also the country’s international leverage. Oil is a commodity with an increasingly fluctuating price which is met with a massive drive for sustainability and green alternatives. Among other geopolitical considerations and regional prerequisites, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) found themselves at an impasse: the economy had to be redirected from a one-dimensional source to a diversified one. However, diversifying the economy entails various ramifications that go beyond the immediate fiscal impact, to affect the social contract that had been reigning supreme for years. Building up momentum for change, different laws were introduced to ease the lifestyle within the Kingdom and Vision 2030 was began. A national strategy that would shift Saudi Arabia from a rentier state to a proactive one, while resting on three pillars: a thriving economy, a vibrant society, and an ambitious nation. Today, Saudi Arabia is spearheading different undertakings: the invitation of multinational corporations to come and open their businesses there, cultural events marking themselves as the events of the season from the Red Sea Film Festival, MDLBeast Soundstorm music festival, F1, live Golf, and wellness destinations, including social reforms that are encouraging internal advancement for women be it socially, professionally, and educationally.
Women in the Kingdom
The shift that the country is undertaking cannot be considered as exclusively led by social calls for women empowerment and emancipation. It is paired by a conscious decision executed by the monarchy and the ruling authority to lead a complete rebranding of what the Kingdom stands for. Ever known for its social rigidity and unequivocal application of Islamic law, the Kingdom finds itself today embarked on a massive, full-scale relaunching of Saudi Arabia 2.0 with a new transformative plan that puts the whole nation under a new spotlight, alongside a fresh social contract that is realigning the known Saudi ways.
2011 was a decisive year for women in Saudi Arabia, the shift was radical and away from only education and work. It focused on voting rights, running for office, and a more symbolic meaning of allowing women to be independent and politically empowered, legally.
Women were mainly absent in public life; if present, they were segregated and silenced. In such a highly patriarchal society, women were seen as an essential extension of the male identity. They were known or referred to always in terms of the men in their lives, be it fathers, husbands, or brothers. Their role was mainly surrounding the maintenance of the family structure.
But the monarchy recognized the need for women to become prominent and active members of society, in all fields. Such advancement was done with a clear line of thought of modernizing the Kingdom’s perception both locally and internationally.
Saudi women’s openness was also met by a conscious pressing economic need by the authorities to include this new workforce into the system; in fact, women’s social and educational advancement alongside the ongoing economic changes and prosperity have had a significant positive impact on Saudi Arabia. More active, involved, and educated women would result in a higher economic output and provide better socio-economic development as a whole.
Women will gain more rights progressively; Sept. 26, 2017 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [MBS] ordered a royal decree that would allow women to drive cars.
Women’s active engagement in the Kingdom was not only accentuated by the recent public appearances and state positions that women are holding today but change was further entrenched by implementing new social policies regarding women and engaging in steps that appear to loosen restrictions. In 2016, the religious police, also known as the morality police, was stripped of its power to arrest and enforce strict Islamic law.
From Women to Diversification
These internal social efforts were also met by simultaneous initiatives driven by sustainability, megaprojects, openness, and wellness. The monarchy set out an orchestrated plan to be working on a dual track focusing on diversifying the economy by building adequate sources of income emanating from a hard-core business expansion to the remodeling of Saudi society.
The interesting aspect of the Saudi quest is its conviction of introducing the new while celebrating the authentic traits of the past. Situated in a clear line of competition with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia seems to be incorporating all the right steps to push the country in the right direction, socially, economically, and politically. The beauty of the Arab Kingdom has been so intrinsically preserved and seemingly incorporated with the new to capitalize on the unique aspect under which the country could market itself while advancing women as pioneers in every groundbreaking endeavor.
Neom, built with every technological advancement of the present, monopolizes the natural scenic layout. Announced in 2017, a series of other vanguardist projects were introduced from the Line, Oxagon, Trojena, Sindalah, etc. turning the Kingdom into a project-generating machine, attracting work force, talent, and foreign investments through marketing campaigns that speak the language of best practices and international standards. Discovering Neom was further boosted by having four creative Saudi women discover Neom’s infinite landscape and taking on the exploration of the futuristic city.
Traits of the Saudi foundational elements such as authentic souks, traditional streets, and original village-like areas are preserved, renovated and used as cultural attractions. Al-Ula, preserving a history of 200,000 years old, considered one of UNESCO’s cultural heritages “Situated at the crossroads of ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, AlUla is—in spirit and substance—a tapestry exhibiting cultural exchanges between civilizations over the ages” is among the leading Saudi attractions. The city’s museums were commissioned by the Saudi Royal Commission for Al-Ula to architects, Lina Ghotmeh, Beirut-born and British talent Asif Khan.
Saudi has also upgraded its international perception and entered in direct competition with the big-league wellbeing market by introducing wellness retreats. Getting branded as the next must-visit destination in the region; women are allowed to wear bikinis, resorts managements announced, enforcing the Kingdom’s new openness policies.
In true testament to its ever-growing ambition for regional repositioning, it launched LIV Golf, financed by the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund; a golf tournament that has gathered the most renown names in the golfing business. Relying on a secretive marketing campaign it made the initiative all the more attractive. LIV Golf participants were kept mysterious for a while. The tournament does not only stand out because of its incredible financial backing and prizes, but also due to its unique format, taking place over three days and 52 holes, instead of the traditional 72-hole tournament spread over four days.
Further advancing women’s standing in the country, the Kingdom introduced the 1st professional women’s golf event in Saudi Arabia in 2020. The Ladies First Club spreads the sport to thousands of local females, while providing free golf across the country.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is transforming how it is being perceived by the world; one to which it has been closed off for years. Redefining the role that the Kingdom is playing in the region, requires also its repositioning with respect to international players, economic markets, cultural advancement and women’s empowerment.
By Marita Kassis
