Female representation increases in the Board of Directors of Hajj Guides

The KSA Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Benten has appointed two ladies as members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the South Asian Pilgrims' Foundation, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The gesture empowers Saudi women and increases their participation in the labour market, both in general and in Hajj-related careers in particular according to the vision of the kingdom for 2030.

Hanadi Ramdani will have responsibility for the public affairs sector, while the women's committee will be helmed by Al-Lail.

Women's cosmetics to grow at a CAGR of over 11% in KSA

Source: Research and Markets.

Research and Markets has added the Saudi Arabia Women Cosmetics Market 2012-2022 report to their offering.

According to the TechSci Research report, the cosmetics market in KSA for women is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 11% from 2017 to 2022, on account of growing demand for halal cosmetics, a booming retail industry and easy availability of cosmetics online.

Cosmetic products are no longer restricted to being used on special occasions, but are gaining prominence as part of a daily regimen. In KSA, women's cosmetic products are being widely adopted, and have emerged as high utility products, especially over the last few years.

Women in the country are becoming more open to trying new products which help them in maintaining a youthful and elegant look. In addition to conventional cosmetics, several new products are being introduced in the Saudi Arabian market to help women in protecting their skin from pollution and sun damage. Moreover, backed by growing trend of workplace gender equality in the country, the women workforce is continuously expanding, which in turn is aiding the KSA women cosmetics market.

Increasing urbanisation, growing per capita spending on cosmetics, continuous product innovations and aggressive marketing by companies as well as online retailers are expected to positively influence the market during the forecast period.


Companies mentioned in the report include Avon Saudi Arabia, Beiersdorf, Clara International Beauty Group, Inika, L'Oréal Saudi Arabia, Louis Vuitton Saudi Arabia, OnePure, Procter & Gamble,
Saaf Skincare, and Unilever Saudi Arabia.

Interested?

Buy the Saudi Arabia Women Cosmetics Market, By Type, By Point of Sale, By Age Group, By Halal Vs. Conventional, By Organized Vs. Unorganized, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2012-2022 report

Ladies' Mall opens in Oman

"Ladies Mall" Complex is Oman's first shopping mall fully dedicated for women and children. The mall is in Salalah in the business district of Awqad.

"Ladies Mall" Complex is designed to provide an opportunity for women to work in commercial, economic and cultural activities, besides supporting entrepreneurs.

Services and activities for women at the mall include a special section for children, a theatre, restaurants, shops and a nursery, along with ATM and electronic payment services, and the services of some government institutions.

While the concept of a mall for ladies is new, Oman has had a traditional souk (market) for ladies in Ibra for many years. The walled ladies' souk is open from 6am to 1pm on Wednesdays.

A booth at the ladies' souk in Ibra, 2009.

Bank of Palestine backs Business Women Forum initiatives

The Business Women Forum, in partnership with the Bank of Palestine, has launched a training programme and the I am an Entrepreneur 2016 contest.

Logo for the I am an Entrepreneur contest.

Since 2011, the Business Women Forum has targeted young women entrepreneurs through a programme to develop their skills and capabilities, in order to enable them to develop business plans and apply business ideas effectively. The women entrepreneurs receive intensive training that help them create new job opportunities. The training programme is implemented through the Business Development Center, the Forum’s technical arm, which provides all types of assistance in order to advance the businesses owned by women in Palestine.

This programme is an integral part of Felestineya (Editor's note: Palestine woman), a non-financial advisory service provided by the bank since 2014 through collaboration with the Forum to empower Palestinian women. 

The I am an Entrepreneur contest also aims to empower women. It promotes a competitive spirit between women entrepreneurs, encourages them to start or develop their own businesses, and helps them fulfill their ambitions. The first-place winner will receive US$5,000, while the second and third-place winners will each receive US$2,500.

Eligible women must have serious ideas for businesses, or an existing project. They should demonstrate the ability to develop their own profitable businesses. The contestants receive training in writing business plans, including consultations to develop or start their own businesses. They will also get guidance from the Business Development Center, which connects them with new markets and sources of funding for capital.

Interested?

Read the terms and conditions for the I am an Entrepreneur contest (Arabic)

All-female Aurora Spa opens at Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh

Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, in a joint venture with Joelle Mardinian, has officially opened the doors to its all-female Aurora Spa by Joelle. Madinian is a well-known female TV personality in the GCC, as well as an influential fashion and makeup expert in the Middle East.

The Aurora Spa has six individual therapy rooms that provide tailored treatments designed to help guests unwind, re-balance and rejuvenate. The spa features dedicated female-only access from the parking area and hotel, as well as whirlpools and a traditional Oriental hammam.

Philippe Bonnot, General Manager of Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh said: “The opening of Aurora Spa by Joelle is a fantastic opportunity for female Saudi residents and visitors to experience unique spa treatments. From employing female therapists to creating facilities exclusively for women, our goal is to make the hotel as friendly as possible for ladies.”

The opening of Aurora Spa marks the first spa for Mardinian. She said, "I love to engage with projects that aim to enhance the beauty of women everywhere, hence we have spent a considerable amount of time with designers, architects and a host of other professionals to make sure the spa meets all expectations, with every individual part being of an extremely high standard.”

Interested?

Call +966 11 457 9999

National Bank of Fujairah introduces dedicated banking for Emirati businesswomen

Source: NBF e-newsletter.

The National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) has launched NBF Elham, a department dedicated to supporting the banking requirements of female Emirati business leaders and entrepreneurs. Elham (إلهام) means 'inspiration' in Arabic.

Staffed by female Emirati corporate bankers and operating initially from the bank's Al Quoz branch, NBF Elham will provide Emirati businesswomen easy access to the bank's extensive knowledge and experience in multiple industries as well as its corporate banking services and growing suite of Islamic banking solutions.

While the UAE has issued countrywide directives committed to smoothening the transition of Emirati women into the corporate world, statistical and anecdotal evidence suggest that local female entrepreneurs, regardless of their strong ability and desire for success, still face challenges in receiving the appropriate support for their businesses.

Vikram Pradhan, NBF's Head of Corporate & Institutional Banking, said that NBF Elham reaffirms the bank's relationship-driven focus and commitment to the country's long term goal of cultivating a pipeline of Emirati business leaders.

"It is through my discussions with our Emirati lady clients and female relationship managers from my team that have made me realise that while the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive in the UAE, many Emirati women entrepreneurs are not aware of, or do not have ready access to, the working capital, financial tools and expert guidance that would otherwise be available to other business owners.

"As a well-established local bank with one of the best track records in supporting businesses in the UAE, we are naturally the first to have identified this unique segment. By leveraging our highly trained and dedicated female Emirati relationship team and the bank's accumulated business experience and financial expertise, we hope to be able to level the playing field for aspiring Emirati female business leaders and thereby pave the way for their greater participation and success in the local economy."

Vince Cook, NBF's Chief Executive Officer, added: "The increasingly crucial role that Emirati businesswomen play in the future of the UAE requires little explanation, and as a customer segment, it is certainly deserving of greater attention from the local banking sector. Just as the government is actively pushing for greater inclusion of talented local women into the socio-political and economic spheres, we feel that there is much more that NBF can do on the ground to support the growing number of female Emirati businesswomen.

"With NBF Elham, we hope to not only encourage a stronger entrepreneurial culture within the country but to partner Emirati businesswomen as they achieve further breakthroughs in their respective industries."

NBF Elham is part of the bank's corporate and institutional banking division, which also has specialised teams focusing on various industries, from energy and marine, services and manufacturing to precious metals and diamonds.