Saudi Arabia allows women to join Army; string of social reforms continue

Riyadh, February 28: Saudi Arabia taking a massive step on Tuesday allowed women to join the Army who wish to serve and protect the Kingdom. Notably, the move comes under the kingdom’s reform drive to allow women to play a more active role Saudi society.

 

According to the new reform, women in Saudi Arabia will now be able to apply for positions with the rank of soldier in the provinces of Riyadh, Makkah, al-Qassim and Medina. A list of requirements says applicants must be Saudi citizens and aged between 25 to 35 with a high school diploma.

Under Saudi Arabia's guardianship system, women who apply to join the army must also have a place of residence in the same provinces as the job's location with their male guardians, usually husband, father, brother or son.

Importantly, the recruitment of female soldiers is one of many reforms enhancing women's rights introduced in recent months in the kingdom. The announcement from Saudi government comes as a part of the Vision 2030 social and economic reform program in the Kingdom.

In September 2017, Saudi Arabia announced it will allow women to drive, ending the long-standing policy that had been criticised by international campaigners and women’s groups. In October 2017, Saudi Arabia announced that it will allow women to attend sporting events in stadiums starting 2018, an announcement that joins a series of groundbreaking reforms addressing the status of women in the kingdom. In December 2017, Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades.