Saudi Arabia allows women to join its Border Guards

Women in Saudi Arabia can now register to join the Border Guards unit at the rank of private, the kingdom’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

The move comes as part of the kingdom’s move to increase the number of women in government and private sector roles.

The changes are part of the kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to reform almost every aspect of life and government, including the empowerment of women.

Saudi Arabia steps up female recruitment in the armed forces

Saudi Arabia's first female soldiers graduate from military academy

Saudi Arabia opened posts in the military to women for the first time in February last year.

Applicants for the Border Guards roles must be Saudi, aged from 25 to 35, must not have a criminal record and must meet the required qualifications.

Applications will be open from Saturday to Thursday, March 26 to 31, via the kingdom's Absher portal.

Women now have the opportunity to join the army, royal air defence, the navy, the royal Saudi strategic missile forces and the medical services of the armed forces.

Their ranks can range from private to sergeant.

Saudi Arabia's female taxi drivers - in pictures

Taxi driver Fahda Fahd sits in her car in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. Like other Saudi women, Ms Fahd couldn't legally drive until 2018, but her lime-green Kia now gives her a way to make extra cash as living costs soar in the conservative kingdom. All Photos: AFP

Ms Fahd says her family is supportive of her second job, on two conditions: no long trips or men as passengers.

'My salary is not enough for my three children, and especially for my daughter who has special needs,' she says.

Ms Fahd earns a salary of 4,000 Saudi riyals ($1,066) a month from her regular job and driving brings in another 2,500 riyals.

Millions of Saudi women are finding jobs as female employment gains acceptance in the deeply conservative society.

Women made up more than a third of the workforce last year for the first time, government figures showed.

Since 2018, more than 200,000 women have obtained driving licences, with car sales rising five percent last year, media reports say.

Last September, Saudi Arabia's first female recruits graduated from the Armed Forces Women's Cadre Training Centre, the first time in the kingdom's history that women will begin service in frontline roles.

Women have been part of public security in the kingdom since 2019, in the General Directorate of Prisons, Criminal Evidence and Customs, and the General Directorate of Narcotics.

Saudi Arabia plans to invest more than $10 billion in the military industry over the next decade, the governor of the General Authority for Military Industries said last year.

The country will also spend the same amount on military research and development.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Marathon results

Men:

1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

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Inside Palestine-Israel

Saeb Erakat: Palestine can overcome coronavirus

Michael Young: The issue with Israel's 'iron wall'

Michael Young: What Israel's divisions mean for Arabs

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While you're here...

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While you're here

Chitrabhanu Kadalayil: Singapore election is more than just a family feud over LKY's legacy

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Calls

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4/5

Specs

Engine: 2-litre

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 255hp

Torque: 273Nm

Price: Dh240,000

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)

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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A