On the occasion of National Day, female military personnel joined the parade and marched continuously for 60 minutes, and expressed their love for their homeland Saudi Arabia. The parade took place in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as well as in Jeddah.
For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of women, hundreds of Saudi citizens and people participated and waved the green flag of Saudi Arabia and showed their love for the homeland. The question is, has Saudi Arabia changed?
Current Saudi ruler and the country’s development
Numerous decisions led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz have been criticized as the Saudi government has made major decisions to promote progressive attitudes and tourism in the country.
Recently, the Saudi government introduced an app under which immigrants will be able to register themselves, otherwise, entry into Saudi Arabia will be banned. On the occasion of National Day, it was also decided to give free access to the contents of the digital library for one week.
On the occasion of Homeland Day, Saudi citizens benefited from the online database. Knowledgeable material has been available for free since September 19. The library contains 450,000 digital books, 60,000 scientific journals, and 9 million articles. Over the next nine years, more than 1.3 million homes and 100,000 hotel rooms will be built in Saudi Arabia.
National Day celebrations
Every year, Saudi citizens celebrate National Day on September 23. Rallies take place on major highways. Parks, roads, intersections, buildings, and highways are decorated with green Saudi flags, balloons, and flags.
Fireworks were also set off in major cities this year and love and devotion to Saudi Arabia were expressed at various events. The founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, changed the name of Najd and Hijaz to Saudi Arabia by royal decree on September 23, 1932, in memory of which National Day is celebrated.
Steps for women
In June 2021, a new system for foreign husbands for local women was introduced in Saudi Arabia. The children of Saudi women are now able to benefit more from state benefits. People with foreign spouses will benefit from the new social security system.
Non-Saudi children were allowed to benefit from their Saudi mother’s pension until they became widowed or divorced. Three months ago, the Saudi government amended the law to give women the right to live freely without a mahram, using section 169 of the Saudi law, which has also been deleted.
Local women now have the right to live without a man or guardian. Previously, adult women, divorced or widowed, were obliged to live with a mahram. In January 2021, the Saudi Football League appointed 62 women referees.
In March 2020, 26 women were employed in various fields of aviation, including air traffic control. Under Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s Vision 2030, women began to showcase their talents in all fields, including music and car racing.
The first theater in Saudi Arabia opened in February 2020, featuring female artists. According to the Saudi Ministry of Culture, stage dramas have been launched. The ministry is committed to promoting theater in the country and providing more opportunities for artists.
Recruitment of women in the army and parade
Recruitment of female officers to the Saudi forces began in February 2021. Candidates were allowed to apply online. The age limit for medically healthy women has been fixed at 21 to 40 years and height 155 cm or more and on the occasion of National Day, women participated in the parade for the first time this year.
Women are also allowed to enlist in the Saudi Army, Royal Air Force, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, and Armed Medical Force. Saudi women were recruited as soldiers, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, and Staff Sergeant.
Criticism and realism
On the one hand, the whole world is appreciating the decisions of Prince Muhammad bin Salman and praising him for giving freedom to women, while on the other hand, a section said that obscenity and nudity are being promoted in Saudi Arabia and Western culture is being followed.
The world is moving towards the electric vehicle industry instead of petrol and diesel and the time is not far when it will become a survival challenge for countries that depend solely on petroleum products. In this context, the steps taken by Saudi Arabia can be said to be based on realism, which is promoting tourism and the role of women in the development of the country.
