Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – New faces seen in Saudi Arabia, especially the capital Riyadh. The city, reported The National, is no longer burdened by segregation rules and strict social practices.
At Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, for example, men and women stand in the same queue at customs. Most of the women were not wearing headscarves and some were not wearing the Abaya, the traditional long dress commonly worn by women in the Gulf region and which was once mandatory in Saudi Arabia.
“Visiting Saudi Arabia as a whole was a different experience in 2008 than it is today, with strict rules on wearing abayas and headscarves and blatant sex segregation,” said Samia, an Egyptian tourist visiting with her extended family in Jeddah.
The “opening” of Riyadh and the abolition of a series of physical and social rules have in fact significantly changed the daily life of the residents. This stems from the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, who introduced a number of transformational projects and initiatives to drive the country’s progress.
Most women still wear the hijab. Others, however, prefer not to cover their hair.
The mixing of men and women is becoming more common and the religious police are invisible. Now, women are more involved in the workplace.
The Saudi government has enacted a labor law called Nitaqat. The policy obligates Saudi companies and fills their workforce with locals to some extent, including women.
“Ten years ago, most workplaces were dominated by men,” said Khaled Alturki, co-founder and chief executive officer of Marefa Digital, a learning platform that hosts workshops and training sessions.
“There is a healthy mix of women and men when we offer workshops and training… There is more diversity and inclusion,” she added.
The same thing was said Susan Parker. Since 2008 she has been working in the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“There are no adjectives big enough to describe the changes Riyadh has seen,” he said, surprised to see Riyadh now.
Previously, she said, as an unmarried foreign woman, she could not get a tourist visa for meeting clients in the capital. But now, not anymore.
“His demeanor was very open, friendly and forward-looking,” said the Cenomy group’s communications chief.
“Everyone really feels like they’ve played a part in this shift,” she added.
The same media have reported that the Saudi Arabian government’s investment in the restoration of the city’s cultural heritage and infrastructure has more than doubled since the launch of Vision 2030. This change is particularly evident in Riyadh.
The Riyadh Season is a five-month cultural and entertainment festival that attracts locals and tourists to the capital. Its center is Boulevard Riyadh, a 900,000 square meter entertainment district.
In 2021, Riyadh Season will host 7,500 events covering everything from music and the arts to food and sporting events. In 2022, there will be 8,500 activities including daily fireworks, 150 concerts, eight international shows, 17 Arabic-language performances, 108 interactive experiences and 252 restaurants.
“Indeed, all kinds of talent and business opportunities have come to Riyadh in recent years,” said a resident, Alturki.
“Traffic is a problem…but it’s actually a good indication of a thriving city and capital,” he added.
To that end, the city government will reportedly invest US$23 billion over the next eight years to maximize expansion. The Riyadh Metro, a new $22.5 billion transportation project, was also built with 85 stations and six lines.
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