So far, 2018 has been a significant year for women in Saudi Arabia and now they have another milestone to celebrate.
Thanks to Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Vision 2030 mission, several historic announcements have made global news including women finally being allowed to drive, become soldiers and air traffic controllers as well as work at General Directorate of Passports.
Now for the first time, a woman has been appointed to run a Saudi Bank. Lubna Al Olayan will head up the merger of Alawwal Bank and Saudi British Bank, the third biggest bank in the region, after being a deputy chair of Alawwal Bank for four years.
This will not come as a surprise to many who have been following her inspirational journey. A long standing pioneer for women in Saudi Arabia, back in 2004 she was elected to the board of Saudi Hollandi Bank, becoming the first woman in the country to feature on the board of a public company.
A year on, she co-chaired the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and this year she topped the ranking of Forbes Middle East’s most influential women.
Seems like the winds of change are blowing strongly through the Kingdom.
