Saudi Arabia has appointed two female ambassadors, as authorities move to enhance women's rights and representation in the kingdom.
Haifa Al Jedea and Nesreen Al Shebel began their roles as the kingdom’s envoys to the EU and Finland, respectively, on Tuesday evening.
The two women took the oath of office before King Salman bin Abdulaziz, along with other newly appointed diplomats, at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported.
Ms Al Jedea thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed “for the honourable royal trust in appointing me as the ambassador and head of the European Union mission”.
“I ask God Almighty to help me to serve this dear country,” she wrote on Twitter.
Before becoming ambassador to the EU, Ms Al Jedea was the managing director of SRMG Think, a think tank established by the Saudi Research and Media Group.
The institution's main goal is to provide studies about the Middle East and North Africa in fields including economy, geography and foreign policy.
The kingdom now has five women envoys representing it around the world.
The first female to take office as a diplomat was Princess Reema bint Bandar, who became Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US in 2019.
Before becoming ambassador, the princess was an advocate for women’s rights in the kingdom and worked with the Ministry of Education to include physical education for girls in schools.
In 2014, Forbes Middle East magazine chose Princess Reema as one of the most powerful Arab women in the Middle East.
Authorities have introduced many changes in recent years to promote women's rights. Women can now drive, launch businesses without a guardian’s permission, attend sports matches and enrol in the military.
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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
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Canada
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
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Position: Centre-Midfield
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
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Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
