In a latest move to advance women’s rights in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense has opened military recruitment for women. This latest development is part of the plan which was first announced in 2019.
As of Sunday, women can now join Saudi Arabia’s armed forces in military ranks from soldier to sergeant. The forces open for women include the Saudi Arabian Army, Royal Saudi Air Defense, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, and Armed Forces Medical Services.
A unified admission portal will be used for the recruitment of both men and women in the armed forces, although women will have to pass some additional criteria.
Along with the usual criteria for a clean record and being medically fit for service, women must be between the ages of 21 and 40, have a height of 155 cm or taller, and cannot be a government employee.
Women applicants are also required to hold an independent national identity card and have at least a high school education. Furthermore, Women married to non-Saudi citizens will be disqualified. The initiative is another step forward in the fulfillment of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Program, dedicated to the empowerment of women across different fields.
Allowing women to serve in the military has been a controversial topic in Gulf country over the past 30 years. In recent past, Saudi Military also launched the first military section for women in the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces for stationing of female staff.
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