Characteristics, Challenges, and Aspirations in a Regional Context- By Noura Alturki Rebekah Braswell (July 2010)
This report begins to document the inspiring and multifaceted journey of female entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. This focus comes at a time when we are witnessing a rapid and increased investment in our country’s human resources and economic development. Fundamental to this investment has been the inclusion of regulations that encourage greater involvement of women in our workforce. The impact of this support can be seen through the growth, productivity and innovation of Saudi Arabia’s female-owned businesses.

www.akbk.org.sa
Established at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in November 2004, Al-Sayedah Khadijah Bint Khuwailid Businesswomen Center (AKBK) works in collaboration with the private sector and government officials to lobby for the removal of obstacles facing women, in order to empower them both economically and socially to become active participants in national development. It seeks to reform current legislations and policies to become supportive of women’s advancement.

In addition, the Center is keen on raising awareness and providing networking and educational opportunities for female entrepreneurs, working women, job seekers, and potential entrepreneurs. The Center was named after Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) first wife Al-Sayedah Khadijah Bint Khawilid, a successful businesswoman who remains a role model for Muslim women today. Known for her business skills, wisdom, and her values and ethics, she was also able to balance between her family and career. With such a prominent figure as an inspiration, the Center aims to follow in Al-Sayedah Khadijah’s footsteps to become a national and international resource for women’s advancement in Saudi Arabia.
www.monitor.com
Founded in 1983, Monitor Group is a global firm that serves clients through a range of professional services — strategic advisory, capability building and capital services. The firm employs or collaborates with some of the world’s foremost business experts and thought leaders to develop and deliver specialized capabilities in areas including competitive strategy, marketing and pricing strategy, innovation, national and regional economic competitiveness, organizational design, and capability building. Monitor Group is focused on helping our clients lead in their field and create sustainable competitive advantage and impact. To this end, and drawing on decades of experience advising governments on economic competitiveness, Monitor Group has studied and identified the crucial factors that encourage or impede entrepreneurship throughout the world.

Through its offices in Dubai and Riyadh, Monitor Group has examined in particular how the public and private sectors
can stimulate business formation through shaping the policy and regulatory environment to drive competitiveness and to
educate and engage the Middle East’s next generation of business leaders.