Signaling the dawn of a new era, Saudi Arabia has now allowed women to join the country’s armed forces. This watershed moment comes under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative which envisages introducing reforms allowing women in Saudi Arabia to progress in various fields.
Saudi Defence Ministry made the announcement allowing women to join military and armed forces. Saudi women can now join Saudi Arabian Army, Royal Saudi Air Defence, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, and Armed Forces Medical Services, Gulf News reported.
The Saudi Defence Ministry announced that both men and women in the kingdom can now apply for positions in the military through the unified admission portal. Women, between the ages of 21 and 40, will now be recruited as soldiers, lance corporals, corporals, sergeants, and staff sergeants.
Besides mandatory weight and height criteria, female applicants need to have had at least a high school education. Applicants married to foreigners will not be accepted, according to Arab News.