On International Women’s Day, Asharq Al-Awsat highlights Saudi women’s great contribution to the development of society in various fields, including human rights, space, artificial intelligence and sports.
Saudi women have made remarkable progress in recent years in a number of areas, including political work, as Saudi Arabia now has five female ambassadors abroad - an important development that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to empowering the role of women in decision-making.
- Human Rights
In a historic step, Hala Al-Tuwaijri was appointed President of the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom in December 2022. Al-Tuwaijri’s assumption of this post comes within the framework of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting human rights and achieving sustainable development.
Al-Tuwaijri plays a vital role in enhancing awareness on respecting human rights and the values of justice and equality. She also works to emphasize the need for communication and interaction with the local and international community to achieve the goals of the Human Rights Commission.
- Space
In February 2023, a new page was opened in the history of Saudi space exploration, with a historic achievement that saw Saudi Rayyanah Barnawi becoming the first Saudi female astronaut. The event constituted a turning point in the development of Saudi women and their realization of their dreams in the fields of science and technology.
Barnawi, a biomedical researcher, was part of a Space X mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2023. She has over 9 years of experience in stem cell and tissue re-engineering programs, and throughout her career she has worked on improving research protocols, exploring many technologies, managing several breast cancer research projects, and publishing numerous publications in the same field.
- Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Kholoud Al-Mana recently established the Saudi Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, which is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, with a global multidisciplinary team, to target high-impact artificial intelligence projects that fuel innovation and investment in the field’s infrastructure.
Al-Mana is an exceptional Saudi woman, who was appointed as ambassador for global women’s empowerment by the United Nations International Organization for Human Rights and selected as a keynote speaker at the 7th World Summit on Human Rights in Geneva.
- Motorsport
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed great development in women’s participation in fields that were previously limited to men, including motorsport.
Maha Al-Hamali is considered one of the most prominent female drivers in the field, as she won a number of local and international races, and became an inspiration for many ambitious Saudi women.
