Allocation Assist Middle East expanded out into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding healthcare sector earlier this year while still maintaining our focus on our base in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been undergoing a transformation in the past several years, including many cultural and social reforms.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s plan to modernize and diversify its economy, is driving changes in society, especially for women. We have found that much of the information available on the internet about Saudi Arabia is now outdated. The question is What is Life like for Expat Women in Riyadh?
How has life in Saudi Arabia changed?
Since 2018, significant changes to Saudi law mean that women can now drive, and there is no longer mandatory gender segregation so that men and women can mix freely in public spaces.
Princess Reema bint Bandar, who was appointed Saudi Arabia’s first female Ambassador to the United States in 2019, said that the economic and social progress of women has “drastically improved” since the launch of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Dress regulations have been removed. Women are no longer required to wear the abaya or a headscarf in public, although both men and women are still encouraged to dress modestly in respect of the local culture.
As society opens up more and more to international visitors, there is an increasing array of entertainment, music, cinema and sports activities. Riyadh hosts many international sports events and concerts.
