JEDDAH, 18 September 2005 — Madawi Al-Hassoun, the first Saudi woman to run for office, was named yesterday as a candidate for a seat on the board of directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. A large number of businessmen and businesswomen visited JCCI yesterday and collected application forms, said a JCCI official. Al-Hassoun was the first woman to apply as a candidate, the official said.

Arriving at the JCCI head office about 10 in the morning, she did not realize that she was about to become the first woman to register her candidacy. “I am very proud; it never even crossed my mind; when I was informed, I went back home and told my husband and children,” said Al-Hassoun. She said that in running for the seat on the board, she was exercising her rights. “I also believe I can contribute something important to my country.”

In an interview with Arab News, she was asked about her chances of winning. “The thrill of exercising my right and running is overwhelming,” she commented.

Al-Hassoun said she was currently studying the groups running for office and considering mutual interests and possible acceptance as she plans to join a group in order to strengthen her chances of winning. “Working under the guidelines of our religion, we men and women can cooperate and achieve remarkable results,” she said. She added, “We need the men’s support to succeed.”

Al-Hassoun thanked officials for giving businesswomen the opportunity in a field which women are very familiar with. She wished success to all businesswomen running for a seat.

As businesswomen run for office for the first time in the Kingdom, the current JCCI chairman of the board of directors, Ghassan Al-Sulaiman, expects problems and objections to arise.

He was among the group of men and women at JCCI who were in favor of allowing women to participate in the elections and he believes the minister of commerce was right to allow women to have the same rights as men. He pointed out that there was nothing in the rules and regulations of the Saudi chambers to prevent women from voting and standing for office.

“When we make a decision, we look to see if public interest would benefit from the initiative. The recommendation made to the minister to postpone the elections to allow more male and female candidates to run was made with this in mind,” Al-Sulaiman told Arab News.

He believes that women have a good chance to win. “It depends on several factors. First, I hope that the women who nominate themselves have the highest level of ability, education and social standing. Secondly, from previous experiences in elections, the more the candidate is part of a group, the better his or her chances of winning.

“So I recommend that the women candidates either form new groups — but not an all-female one because that would not help them — or consider joining existing groups. And third, of course, is their election campaign and how well they run it,” said Al-Sulaiman.

As for providing the women with special assistance since this is their first experience of running in election, Al-Sulaiman said the chamber tried to be as neutral as possible and it would not offer women any special advantages over men. If, however, the women needed information or clarification concerning the elections, the chamber would provide it, a service which is also available to men.