Back To Print History, Saudi Arabia Allows Women To Join Border Guard Troops

Saudi Arabian armed forces female soldiers. (Twitter/@modgovksa)

JAKARTA - Women in Saudi Arabia can now apply to join the border guard unit with the rank of soldier, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of the Interior.

The move comes as part of the kingdom's move to increase the number of women in government and private sector roles, reports The National News on March 25.

The changes are part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to reform almost every aspect of life and government, including the empowerment of women.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed for social and economic reforms, as part of a plan to modernize the conservative Muslim kingdom and attract foreign investment under a diversification push.

It is known, Saudi Arabia opened posts in the military for female soldiers for the first time in February last year.

Regarding the opportunity to become a female border guard, applicants must be Saudi, aged 25 to 35, must not have a criminal record and must meet the required qualifications.

As for the application process, applicants can do it from Saturday 26 to Thursday, March 31, online through the Absher royal portal.

Saudi Arabian armed forces female soldiers. (Twitter/@modgovksa)

In stark contrast to the past, women in Saudi Arabia today have the opportunity to join the army, the kingdom's air defense, navy, the kingdom's strategic missile forces to the medical services of the armed forces.

To support daily service, these women can have ranks ranging from soldier to sergeant.

Last September, Saudi Arabia's first female recruits graduated from the Armed Forces Women Cadre Training Center, the first time in the kingdom's history that women will start serving in frontline roles.

Major General Adel Al-Balawi, head of the Armed Forces Education and Training Agency in his speech said this educational center has an important mission, which focuses on providing excellent training programs and curricula and an ideal learning environment.

"This is in line with international quality standards that meet the needs of (women recruits). It aims to improve overall performance, which will help achieve the ministry's goals in the future", he explained, citing Arab News.

It is known that women have been part of public security in the kingdom since 2019, at the Directorate General of Corrections, Criminal Evidence and Customs and the Directorate General of Narcotics.

During the Hajj season last year, Saudi Arabia also began to involve women in guarding the holy places of Islam, to help secure the series of worship.

Saudi Arabia alone plans to invest more than $10 billion in the military industry over the next decade, the governor of the General Authority for Military Industry said last year. The country will also spend the same amount on military research and development.