Womens Economic Empowerment Drives Knowledge-Exchange Sessions In Riyadh Under World Bank Program

The National Competitiveness Center in Saudi Arabia recently held knowledge-exchange sessions in Riyadh with the World Bank Group, focusing on women’s economic empowerment in the Arab Mashriq. The meetings brought together Saudi and Iraqi officials, along with World Bank experts, to discuss labour market participation, regulatory reforms and practical policies that support women’s access to economic opportunities across the region.

The discussions formed part of the World Bank’s Program for Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Arab Mashriq and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory experience. Participants examined how the Kingdom’s reform approach could inform regional initiatives, while Iraqi representatives outlined their own priorities for supporting women in employment, entrepreneurship and public life through coordinated national strategies and legal changes.

Vice Minister of Commerce and Chief Executive Officer of the National Competitiveness Center Eiman Al-Mutairi explained that the comprehensive vision launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has reshaped development in the Kingdom. Al-Mutairi stated that this vision has strengthened Saudi women’s role in national development and confirmed that the participation rate of Saudi women in the labour market had reached 36%.

Al-Mutairi outlined the Saudi model for planning and implementing economic and development reforms, stressing the role of evidence-based policymaking and coordination between authorities. The presentation covered methods used to involve the private sector during the implementation phase, and highlighted reforms designed to improve the Kingdom’s competitiveness, attract investment, and ensure that women can participate more effectively in economic activity and benefit from new growth sectors.

Women’s economic empowerment and institutional cooperation data

Al-Mutairi also pointed to broad cooperation among 65 Saudi government entities that had supported large-scale regulatory change. This coordination resulted in more than 900 economic reforms and the issuance or updating of 1,200 laws and regulations, which helped position Saudi Arabia’s business environment among the leading global destinations and among those most supportive of women’s participation in economic development.

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The sessions included a detailed contribution from Vice Governor for Training at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, Adel Al-Zenaidi. Al-Zenaidi discussed how technical and vocational education and training programmes were expanding employment prospects and improving labour market results, through a focus on practical workplace skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, alignment with employer needs, and measures to raise institutional quality, governance and the overall efficiency of training systems.

Women’s economic empowerment and Iraqi policy priorities

From the Iraqi side, Director General of the National Department for Iraqi Women at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers Yusra Karim, and Secretary-General of the High Council of Women Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government Khanzad Ahmed, reviewed national priorities. They described government strategies, legal reforms and enabling frameworks designed to support Iraqi women, improve access to jobs, and strengthen participation in decision-making at both federal and regional levels.

The Riyadh knowledge-exchange sessions under the Saudi–World Bank partnership offered Iraqi officials a closer view of Saudi Arabia’s reform experience in women’s economic empowerment and labour market participation. By sharing technical expertise, regulatory lessons and training approaches, both sides aimed to inform future policies that support women’s roles in economic development across Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the wider Arab Mashriq.

With inputs from SPA