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Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation

Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation
Dr. Tariq Alhamad outlined how reforms under Vision 2030 are helping to remove barriers to women’s participation in economic and social life. (X/@HRSD_SA)
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Updated 13 sec ago

Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation

Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation
  • Female workforce participation reached 36.3 percent in first quarter of 2025, up from 19.7 percent in 2018
  • Maternity leave extended to 12 weeks with full pay; almost 1.3 million women working freelance

RIYADH: Dr. Tariq Alhamad, º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s deputy minister for international affairs at the ministry of human resources and social development, outlined how reforms under Vision 2030 are helping to remove barriers to women’s participation in economic and social life during the official review of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality.

“Vision 2030 is more than a set of goals,†he said. “It brings government, civil society, and the private sector into shared delivery,†he said at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum in New York City on Tuesday.

“We’ve focused not only on policy, but on the support systems women need to participate fully — whether that’s jobs, childcare or reliable transport.

“There’s more to do, but we’ve made real progress, and we’re determined to build on it,†Alhamad said.

He described Vision 2030 as a national framework that aligns closely with the SDGs and provides the basis for long-term reform.

The deputy minister noted that female workforce participation reached 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 19.7 percent in 2018. Initiatives such as Qurrah, which has supported more than 40,000 women with childcare, and Wusool, which has helped more than 300,000 women with transport to and from work, have been key to this shift.

Maternity leave has been extended to 12 weeks with full pay, and close to 1.3 million women are now working freelance.

“Change doesn’t happen in isolation,†Alhamad said. “It needs institutions that can partner, systems that allow for transparency, and frameworks that reflect our national priorities while staying aligned with global standards.â€

HRSD has introduced new legal frameworks for volunteering, donations and non-profit work. Alongside the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, the ministry is helping to expand the role of civil society in service delivery and innovation.

Initiatives such as the National Volunteer Portal and the Ehsan platform are making it easier for citizens to participate, while helping institutions track and improve impact.

The ministry is working to contribute to several SDGs, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

Dr. Tariq also spoke about the value of international partnerships, highlighting HRSD’s collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the World Bank, both part of the broader UN system. These relationships, he said, help ensure that national reforms meet international standards while staying rooted in local realities.

“Vision 2030 and the 2030 Agenda were launched the same year. They’re not the same, but they speak to many of the same goals,†he said.

“For us, the SDGs are not abstract. They’re reflected in the way we build institutions, form partnerships, and serve our communities.â€

The minister of economy and planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, delivered the Kingdom’s address at the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York City.


Sakura adorn Japan Pavilion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Sakura adorn Japan Pavilion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh
Sakura, or cherry blossom trees, are generally used as a national symbol in Japan
Updated 24 July 2025

Sakura adorn Japan Pavilion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Sakura adorn Japan Pavilion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh
  • Sakura adorn Japan Pavilion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh 

RIYADH: The Japan Pavilion at the Esports World Cup at Riyadh City Boulevard is now filled with Sakura trees as part of the cultural experiences accompanying the global event.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, Japanese company Crunchyroll is also showing an artistic sculpture celebrating the deep symbolism of these trees in Japanese culture.

Sakura, or cherry blossom trees, are generally used as a national symbol in Japan, featured mostly during spring, in food and beverages.

The sculpture provides visitors with an opportunity to connect with one of Japan’s cultural icons.


 


Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli Knesset's call to Impose control over Occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley

Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli Knesset's call to Impose control over Occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley
º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Ministry of Foreogn Affairs condemned the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the West Bank
Updated 24 July 2025

Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli Knesset's call to Impose control over Occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley

Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli Knesset's call to Impose control over Occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley
  • In a statement, the ministry said the actions by the Israeli authorities undermined efforts to achieve peace through the two-state solution, and reflected a continued insistence on destruction and destabilization

RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Ministry of Foreogn Affairs has condemned on Thursday the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.

Israel’s parliament approved a symbolic measure calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Lawmakers voted 71-13 in favour of the motion which called for “applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valleyâ€.

In a statement, the ministry said the actions by the Israeli authorities undermined efforts to achieve peace through the two-state solution, and reflected a continued insistence on destruction and destabilization.

The motion, advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is non-binding and the Kingdom reaffirmed its rejection of all violations committed by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to self-determination.

It also called on the international community to take serious steps to implement UN resolutions that uphold the Palestinian people's inherent right to live in dignity on their land, within an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

has no direct legal implications, though it could place the issue of annexation on the agenda of future debates in the parliament.

 


KSrelief distributes 3,989 food parcels in Afghanistan and Pakistan

KSrelief distributes 3,989 food parcels in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Updated 36 min 55 sec ago

KSrelief distributes 3,989 food parcels in Afghanistan and Pakistan

KSrelief distributes 3,989 food parcels in Afghanistan and Pakistan
  • A total of 27,094 vulnerable individuals benefited from the initiative, according to KSrelief

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief recently distributed 3,989 food parcels to vulnerable people in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported earlier this week.

In Afghanistan, 115 parcels were distributed in Omari Camp, at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar Province, to Afghan returnees from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, 3,874 food parcels were distributed to flood-affected communities, including in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Haveli, Muzaffarabad, and Poonch), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Upper Dir and Torghar), and Punjab (Layyah district).

A total of 27,094 vulnerable individuals benefited from the initiative, according to KSrelief.


KSrelief distributes 970 shelter kits in Pakistan and Somalia

KSrelief distributes 970 shelter kits in Pakistan and Somalia
The program benefitted 6,672 individuals, according to the Saudi Press Agency. (SPA)
Updated 24 July 2025

KSrelief distributes 970 shelter kits in Pakistan and Somalia

KSrelief distributes 970 shelter kits in Pakistan and Somalia
  • The program benefitted 6,672 individuals, according to the Saudi Press Agency. (SPA)

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief recently distributed 970 shelter kits to vulnerable communities in Pakistan and Somalia, benefiting 6,672 individuals, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In Pakistan, KSrelief provided 840 kits to displaced and affected families in the Haveli and Muzaffarabad districts of Jammu and Kashmir province, benefitting 5,232 individuals.

In Somalia, KSrelief distributed 130 shelter kits, along with 100 clothing bags and 10 tents, to families in Baki Camp in the Awdal region, benefitting 1,440 people.
 


Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says Turki Alalshikh

Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says Turki Alalshikh
Updated 27 min 10 sec ago

Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says Turki Alalshikh

Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says Turki Alalshikh
  • More music, football, boxing, MMA, WWE, says entertainment chief
  • First Riyadh Comedy Festival to have over 50 of the world’s top stars

RIYADH: Plenty of global attractions are scheduled for the upcoming Riyadh Season, with the General Entertainment Authority also promising more content from º£½ÇÖ±²¥, the Gulf and Syria.

 

The GEA’s Chairman Turki Alalshikh on Wednesday also announced the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, which will take place at Boulevard City from Sept. 26 to Oct. 9.

 

The event will feature over 50 of the world’s most renowned comedians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Turki Alalshikh, adviser and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority. (SPA photo)

Following the success of last year’s season, Riyadh is currently experiencing an unprecedented entertainment boom. This includes the hosting of the Esports World Cup — the world’s largest tournament — with a prize pool exceeding $70 million.

 

Among the global events being lined up are music concerts, football, boxing, UFC fights, and a WWE showcase, Alalshikh said.

 

Wrestling fans can look forward to the “Royal Rumble†taking place in January, the SPA quoted him as saying.

 

Alalshikh added that more surprises will be announced soon, including events in collaboration with global YouTube star MrBeast.

 

In addition a “Six Kings Slam†tennis tournament will be held with the world’s top players competing for the largest prize in the sport’s history — following the success of last year’s edition.

 

Riyadh Season is an annual entertainment festival held usually from October to March, to boost tourism and diversify the economy, as a part of the country’s Vision 2030 initiative.