Saudi Arabia highlights women's economic gains at high-level GCC gender dialogue

Al Arabiya

7 hours ago

Saudi Arabia spotlighted its sweeping reforms and rising female workforce participation at a high-level GCC Gender Dialogue hosted in Dubai by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank.
The Kingdom participated in the regional peer exchange last week, joining officials from the UAE and Bahrain in a series of workshops and dialogue sessions aimed at sharing policy best practices to support women's participation in the workforce.
Representing Saudi Arabia, Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair, General Director of Female Enablement at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), participated in the knowledge exchange session, where she presented the Kingdom's achievements and strategies for empowering women economically.
During the session, al-Hokair emphasized the rapid progress Saudi Arabia has made, noting a dramatic rise in women's labor force participation – from 17 percent in 2017 to over 36 percent today.
'This event is a timely moment to reflect on how far the Kingdom has come in advancing women's participation in the workplace, and to share real-world lessons and successful strategies on what drives progress with our peers in the Gulf from the UAE and Bahrain,' she said.
'Saudi Arabia has achieved unprecedented milestones in women's economic empowerment… surpassing our Vision 2030 targets.'
The event, led by the World Bank, included sessions on global best practices for gender-inclusive labor markets, including childcare policies, legal protections, and efforts to boost women's access in digital and green economy sectors.
It also featured insights on the upcoming Women, Business and the Law (WBL) index methodology, a World Bank tool that benchmarks gender-related regulatory progress.
Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Labor, Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, echoed the Kingdom's commitment to long-term gender equity, stating:
'Women's economic empowerment is not merely a goal; it is a fundamental pillar for the Kingdom's long-term prosperity. In this spirit, the Ministry, in collaboration with government entities, national programs, and the private sector, has launched a series of structural reforms and initiatives since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030.'
'These reforms and initiatives, from equal pay legislation to transport support and maternity policies, have opened up real pathways for Saudi women to participate, progress, and lead in the workplace. We are proud to share our experience and to learn from our partners across the Gulf and the wider region.'
Among Saudi Arabia's reforms and initiatives highlighted were:
A rise in women holding mid- and senior-level management roles, now accounting for 44.1 percent, up from 28.6 percent in 2017, supported by leadership training in partnership with INSEAD, a non-profit business school.
The Parallel Training initiative, which has helped over 122,000 women find employment through more than 800 programs across 46,000 private sector partners.
The Wusool transport program, assisting more than 288,000 women with commuting to work.
Legislation promoting equal pay and anti-discrimination in hiring and promotions.
Expanded maternity leave to 12 weeks at full pay and increased access to childcare through the Qurrah initiative.
Regulatory reforms ensuring equal retirement benefits for women.
Support for modern work models such as freelance, remote, and flexible employment.
These efforts have collectively contributed to stronger workforce participation, retention, and leadership opportunities for Saudi women – positioning the Kingdom as one of the most dynamic labor markets for women in the region.