Saudi Arabia Tops Middle East for Women's Empowerment

Saudi Arabia just earned top marks globally for how fast it's breaking down barriers for women in the workplace and beyond.

The World Bank's Women, Business and the Law 2026 report ranks the Kingdom first in the Middle East for women's empowerment. Even more impressive, Saudi Arabia posted the highest improvement score worldwide in supportive frameworks, which measures how well countries turn women's rights laws into real-world action.

The numbers tell a remarkable story. Women made up just 17 percent of Saudi Arabia's workforce in 2018. Today, that figure has doubled to 36 percent, smashing the country's original 30 percent target years ahead of schedule.

Female unemployment has dropped to historic lows of 10.5 percent. For comparison, many developed nations struggle to match these gains over similar timeframes.

The progress stems from Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's national transformation plan. The government launched programs like Wusool, which provides transportation for working women, and Qurrah, which offers childcare assistance to remove practical barriers keeping women out of the workforce.

More than 122,000 women have completed the Parallel Training Initiative, gaining access to over 800 specialized courses covering everything from technical skills to leadership development. The program has issued 280,000 certificates through partnerships with more than 70 training providers.

Women now hold significantly more leadership positions across business and technology sectors. The Kingdom outranked several G20 economies, including the United States, China and Turkey, in creating supportive policy frameworks for women.

The Ripple Effect

When women gain economic power, entire communities benefit. The Saudi reforms create role models for the next generation while bringing fresh perspectives and talent into industries previously closed to half the population.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development continues expanding initiatives that address real obstacles women face. Transportation challenges, childcare needs, and skills training were all identified as barriers and systematically addressed through targeted programs.

Saudi Arabia also claimed first place among Gulf Cooperation Council countries across all gender equality indicators measured by the World Bank. The report specifically praised the Kingdom's legislative reforms and regulatory changes that strengthen women's positions in economic, social, scientific and cultural fields.

The government has already raised its sights higher, setting a new target of 40 percent female workforce participation by 2030. At the current pace of change, that goal looks increasingly achievable.

Progress this substantial shows what's possible when nations commit resources and political will to gender equality.