JEDDAH, 7 July 2006 — In a bid to encourage more women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom, Saudi businesswomen can now register their businesses themselves without a lawyer and in an hour according to an official at the Ministry of Commerce’s Jeddah branch.
Muhammad Atiq Al-Harby, director general at the Ministry of Commerce, told Arab News that a section has been set aside for women wanting to launch business enterprises.
“There are a sufficient number of women officials at the department. Aspiring businesswomen only need to present themselves at the office and they will be given necessary forms and documents,” said Al-Harby.
According to Al-Harby, the Ministry of Commerce has simplified registration procedures, which now involve the checking of information in an application form. If conditions are met then the registration is completed.
The director general however added that there are certain areas that the ministry does not consider suitable for women to start businesses in; these include real estate and construction.
According to the head of the women’s section at the office, businesswomen regularly come to the office each day to register themselves. She said, “The numbers vary as there are days when we face a lot of pressure and other days when very few applicants come to the office.”
The official added that businesswomen like businessmen need to obtain permission or a license from the ministry for the business they wish to start and only after that will registration be completed. “For some businesses, women need the help of a man. In such a situation businesswomen are required to bring the person who would be her manager to sign the contract and then she would be registered,” added the official.
