The kingdom’s budget in 2018 was the biggest ever in its history as the world’s biggest oil exporter sought to propel economic growth. Reuters
The kingdom’s budget in 2018 was the biggest ever in its history as the world’s biggest oil exporter sought to propel economic growth. Reuters
The kingdom’s budget in 2018 was the biggest ever in its history as the world’s biggest oil exporter sought to propel economic growth. Reuters
The kingdom’s budget in 2018 was the biggest ever in its history as the world’s biggest oil exporter sought to propel economic growth. Reuters

Saudi female workers increase 9% in the second quarter, government data shows


  • English
  • Arabic

More Saudi women are joining the workforce as the kingdom presses on with its reform agenda to boost female employment by lifting a driving ban and opening positions in previously male-dominated sectors.

Employment among Saudi women increased about 9 per cent to 593,356 in the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago, according to government data from the General Authority for Statistics in Riyadh.

The total number of Saudis working in the private sector increased 5.7 per cent in the second quarter from a year earlier. The rate of total Saudi unemployment remained unchanged at 12.9 per cent.

The country aims to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil with the Vision 2030 as a blueprint for its economic reform. Part of the plan is to lift women's participation in the workforce to 30 per cent by 2030, from 22 per cent. The world's biggest oil exporter lifted a driving ban on women in June. An estimated three million women are forecast to be driving in the kingdom by 2020, according to a PwC survey. The kingdom is opening opportunities for Saudi women in typically male-dominated sectors, including top banking roles, cabin crew and air-traffic controllers.

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Read more:

The real winner on Saudi's new stance on women drivers

Empowering women can bring huge economic benefit

Saudi university to open driving school for women

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The rate of Saudi women's economic participation reached 19.6 per cent in the second quarter compared with 18.7 per cent in the year-ago period, the data showed.

Education, health, social services and retail were the biggest sectors employing Saudi women in the second quarter, according to the report.

The kingdom's economic growth is set to rise to 2.5 per cent by the end of this year and 2.7 per cent in 2019, up from 2017 when low oil prices squeezed state revenue and hampered growth, Moody's Investors Service told The National last month. Higher oil prices and an increase in oil production underpin the credit rating agency's economic forecast.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE LOWDOWN

Romeo Akbar Walter

Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

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Sunday's games

Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm

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Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

Naga
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UAE SQUAD

UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards

Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

UAE finals day

Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO

Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday 

Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD

Sukuk

An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.

Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:

6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m​​​​​​​
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m​​​​​​​
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m​​​​​​​
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m​​​​​​​
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m

THE TWIN BIO

Their favourite city: Dubai

Their favourite food: Khaleeji

Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach

Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll

CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Tenet

Director: Christopher Nolan

Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh 

Rating: 5/5