Saudi Arabia has appointed two female assistants for the management of the Two Holy Mosques in a historic first for the kingdom, the Saudi Gazette has reported.
According to the newspaper, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and head of the General Presidency of the Affairs of the two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, disclosed the appointments on Sunday.
He appointed Dr Fatima Al-Rushood and Dr Al-Anoud Al-Aboud as his assistants.
The appointments also include 20 women who hold masters and doctoral degrees, in key leadership positions at the presidency.
Dr Fatima was made assistant president for women’s affairs and advisor to the president, while Dr Al-Anoud was appointed as assistant president for women’s development affairs.
The Presidency said it also intends to train 320 Saudi female employees, after it announced the launch of the training program entitled “Hayyak” to raise the quality of women’s reception in the Two Holy Mosques.
Last August, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques appointed 10 women to senior leadership positions within its ranks. At the time, the presidency said that the appointment of female leaders was directed by al-Sudais “in an effort to raise the level of work in the presidency and to invest in qualified national cadres.”
The body in charge of the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina indicated that the appointments were made across various departments and roles, whether directive, advisory, developmental, administrative, linguistic, technical, engineering, administrative, supervisory or in service.
