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Discuss this article (10 Comments)Saudi business woman closes firm over male boss rule
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 04 May 2009
MALE BOSS: Women who run their own companies have to appoint a male director general under the new dictate.
A prominent Saudi businesswoman has announced she is shutting her IT firm in protest at a new government rule that requires her to appoint a male director general, it was reported on Monday.
A circular sent to all businesses in the country two months ago from the undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry made it a mandatory requirement for every Saudi company owned by a woman to appoint a male director-general.
Aliya Banaja, who owns 2 The Point, has been at the forefront of a campaign to get Hossan Aqeel’s dictate overturned, according to UAE daily Gulf News.
Banaja has now said she will close her company, which is the first Saudi IT firm to be run and staffed exclusively by women, in protest and has urged other businesswomen to follow suit.
In an interview with Al Watan Arabic daily printed on Monday she said her decision would take effect immediately.
"It is not possible for businesswomen to carry out their business activities together with a male commercial agent. We have spoken a lot about this difficult problem. For five years, we have been waiting for the decision taken by the Council of Ministers revoking the requirement to be implemented. But nothing has happened," she said.
Banaja added that she had told other leading business women of her decision, but it was not reported how many other firms could be affected.
However, figures collated by the Khadeeja Bint Khowailed Centre, which is part of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, estimates that there are around 20,000 companies run by women.
The report did not say how many men and women are employed at these firms but estimated that the firms had a total capital investment of more than SR60bn.
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backward thinking and wrong interpretation
Posted by infedel, desert, desert on Saturday 9 May 2009 at 17:49 UAE time
Jebel, how can one agree or disagree with a community that doesn't take very well to criticism? It is always negative and short sighted I'm afraid to say. It won't be long though, they can't keep women away from TV or internet or mobiles. It is either back to camels and off with petroleum to the western world, or embrace the western way. Not all western trends are bad. One must take what is useful and throw out what is not. This community lacks the vision to see further down the mirage. Their conception is limited and misguided. Women should learn to stick it to the man. Enough I say with this barberic cruelty. But why should the rest of the world care? They don't, and it is their way of life, we should respect it. All we can do is advise and comment, and that is all we should do. In my opinion, and By God, any man treating my mum less than a saint will be hanged. Cheers and good luck to you all.
Posted by infedel, desert, desert on Saturday 9 May 2009 at 17:49 UAE time
Jebel, how can one agree or disagree with a community that doesn't take very well to criticism? It is always negative and short sighted I'm afraid to say. It won't be long though, they can't keep women away from TV or internet or mobiles. It is either back to camels and off with petroleum to the western world, or embrace the western way. Not all western trends are bad. One must take what is useful and throw out what is not. This community lacks the vision to see further down the mirage. Their conception is limited and misguided. Women should learn to stick it to the man. Enough I say with this barberic cruelty. But why should the rest of the world care? They don't, and it is their way of life, we should respect it. All we can do is advise and comment, and that is all we should do. In my opinion, and By God, any man treating my mum less than a saint will be hanged. Cheers and good luck to you all.
Do your homework Srivatsa
Posted by Arnie S on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
There are plenty of Muslim countries where women have powerful positions, although Saudi Arabia is not one of them.
Take a look at the Central Bank Governors of Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia-all are women.
Sri Lanka (while not a majority Muslim country) had a woman PM back in the 1960s and Bangladesh has Sheikh Hasina Wajed as their current PM (Khaleda Zia had the job around 20 years ago) and that is a majority Muslim country.
Megawati Sukarnoputri was the President of Indonesia a few years ago, while Mame Madior Boye ran Senegal (a majority Muslim country) around eight years ago.
Posted by Arnie S on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
There are plenty of Muslim countries where women have powerful positions, although Saudi Arabia is not one of them.
Take a look at the Central Bank Governors of Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia-all are women.
Sri Lanka (while not a majority Muslim country) had a woman PM back in the 1960s and Bangladesh has Sheikh Hasina Wajed as their current PM (Khaleda Zia had the job around 20 years ago) and that is a majority Muslim country.
Megawati Sukarnoputri was the President of Indonesia a few years ago, while Mame Madior Boye ran Senegal (a majority Muslim country) around eight years ago.
What?
Posted by Jebel Ali Baba, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 10:04 UAE time
Dear Srivatsa. Women are allowed to vote since the early days of democracy in Europe. Only Switzerland was a bit late. In the communist countries women were totally equal to men by constitution.
Andd the last 100 years changed a lot. Indusyrialization, wars, technical revolution and the age of information and mobility changed mankind quicker than ever.
Only a small region in the world denies these changes to their female population. The men are allowed to use cars, travel freely, rule the economy and politics. Women are second class in these countries. And why? Because a backward thinking and wrong interpretation of Islam...
There is no justification for the gruelties and depression of women in Saudi Arabia.
Posted by Jebel Ali Baba, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 10:04 UAE time
Dear Srivatsa. Women are allowed to vote since the early days of democracy in Europe. Only Switzerland was a bit late. In the communist countries women were totally equal to men by constitution.
Andd the last 100 years changed a lot. Indusyrialization, wars, technical revolution and the age of information and mobility changed mankind quicker than ever.
Only a small region in the world denies these changes to their female population. The men are allowed to use cars, travel freely, rule the economy and politics. Women are second class in these countries. And why? Because a backward thinking and wrong interpretation of Islam...
There is no justification for the gruelties and depression of women in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi women - Time to retaliate - throw the abaya
Posted by Pradeep Naik, UAQ, UAE on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 09:32 UAE time
Domination or depriving human rights, Under the abaya is a Mother,sister,wife & so on. Not just a imported slave housemaid to work for you Saudi Men 24/365.
Ladies should act against the Government, boycott all Men's activities & demand all women shops & other necessary things in life. Including a MP who will listen women to women.
Enough of Men to women talks. These so called Men are scared of women power they should be wearing abaya to hide their face & decision.
I wish all women in Saudi should deny giving birth for next few years, then all these oldies & young generation will start to realise what women is worth for.
Other than doing house work. No gym for their fitness what a shame, then take out the hospital where male doctors are operating on your women.
Do not travel out of country with a women for her treatment or honeymoon.
Wake up man,before you will start hunting for another men.
Posted by Pradeep Naik, UAQ, UAE on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 09:32 UAE time
Domination or depriving human rights, Under the abaya is a Mother,sister,wife & so on. Not just a imported slave housemaid to work for you Saudi Men 24/365.
Ladies should act against the Government, boycott all Men's activities & demand all women shops & other necessary things in life. Including a MP who will listen women to women.
Enough of Men to women talks. These so called Men are scared of women power they should be wearing abaya to hide their face & decision.
I wish all women in Saudi should deny giving birth for next few years, then all these oldies & young generation will start to realise what women is worth for.
Other than doing house work. No gym for their fitness what a shame, then take out the hospital where male doctors are operating on your women.
Do not travel out of country with a women for her treatment or honeymoon.
Wake up man,before you will start hunting for another men.
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