Saudi’s first female only telecoms complex planned

A group of Saudi investors have reportedly come together to set up the first female only telecoms complex in Riyadh,

The complex, located in the Gharnatah District, will consist of 40 shops with female workers provided with transport, according to Ministry of Labour and Social Devleopment assistant undersecretary for special programmes Abdulmonim Al-Shihri.

He said the complex would receive financial support from the government, according to Saudi Press Agency.

“The financing will be from the Human Resources Development Fund. They will be treated in the same way as the rest of the shops getting support. This is apart from the package of training programmes provided by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in its various colleges and institutes for Saudis interested in working and investing in the telecommunications sector.”

The Saudi Credit and Savings Bank will also provide loans of up to SAR 200,000 for young Saudis interested in working in the telecoms sector.

So far the government has trained more than 34,000 Saudi men and women to work in the telecoms sector in areas including mobile maintenance, sales and customer service, according to Saudi Gazette.

The move comes as the kingdom looks to fully nationalise the telecoms sector later this year.

Under new rules announced in March, companies in the industry must ensure half of their workforce is Saudi by Ramadan and 100 per cent by early September.

Read: Saudi mobile industry required to employ 100% Saudis in six months

This resulted in a number of shops closing last month, according to local reports.

Read: Nationalisation drive sees 50% of Saudi mobile shops up for sale