Saudi plans women-only city

Saudi women Saudi Arabia's first women-only industrial city in the Eastern Province city of Hofuf aims to provide more than 5000 jobs to women. The Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) has reportedly been initiating works for planning and development of the city, targeting women investors.
Over SR 500 million will be invested in the first phase of the project.
The authority aims to encourage Saudi women investors and entrepreneurs to invest in the industrial city.
The project was planned to allow women to work in a "suitable atmosphere" and let them "make their contributions to the Kingdom's development".
Modon has asked Saudi academic institutions such as King Faisal University as well as technical institutes to introduce more new-generation courses in the fields of industry and manufacturing.
"Modon plans to utilise Saudi women's ability to engage in various industrial activities. The development of women-only industrial cities would help tap their energy to boost national development," a top Modon official said.
"Recently, the number of women investors and entrepreneurs has been increased a lot," he added. Women will manage all activities of the new industrial city, including administration and security.
The Saudi cabinet has also instructed the relevant ministry to allocate parcels of land within the city limits to establish industrial projects for women. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has already allocated land for the first women-only industrial city.
The Hofuf development is located near Al-Ahsa Airport. Established in 2001, Modon is responsible for the development and management of industrial cities.
The ministry supervises 29 industrial cities across the country. It has targeted to reach 40 industrial cities during the next five years with developed industrial lands of not less than 160 million square metres.