Saudi Women Leaders: Challenges and Opportunities

The January 2013 appointment of thirty Saudi women leaders to the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council) underlined the commitment of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to greater engagement by Saudi women in the national decision-making process. Institutions including the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue now offer platforms for women to enter official deliberations, both nationally and regionally. This paper shows how Saudi women leaders confront and deal with the new challenges and opportunities available to them, and discusses some of the challenges they face, the methods they use to deal with such challenges, and ways and means through which they activate their leadership roles. Additionally, the study attempts to advance our understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing women at the forefront of societal reform, that is, the leaders of societal groupings arguing that Saudi female leaders, the "trailblazers", can play a positive role in Saudi national development.