RIYADH, 19 June 2005 — Amidst all the ongoing debate as to whether women should be allowed to drive, some, it seems, have taken to the skies.
History was made Saturday, as Capt. Hanadi Zakariya Hindi, 27, became the first female pilot accredited to soar over this desert kingdom. Unflinchingly resolute in his endeavor to champion women’s issues and characteristically magnanimous, Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), who sponsored Capt. Hanadi’s training, proposed, “If there is any Saudi lady who is interested in the field of aeronautics or becoming a pilot then I extend her an open invitation to call me. I will fully underwrite any such undertaking from A to Z.”
A graduate of the Amman-based Mideast Aviation Academy, Capt. Hanadi and her proud parents, were received at the Kingdom Holding offices personally by the prince. Evidently pleased by her recruitment to the ranks of his all-male contingent of pilots, Prince Alwaleed expressed his confidence in her abilities and that of Saudi women in general. “I believe that Saudi women are as capable, if not more capable than their male counterparts,” he reiterated.
Such firm conviction in the potential of working women has been amply demonstrated by the prince in his own organization which is an equal opportunities employer. Approximately half of his work force constitutes ladies, including several who hold key positions within several major areas.
Having signed a 10-year contract with KHC in November last year while still enrolled at the aviation academy in Jordan, Capt. Hanadi expressed her gratitude to her parents and the prince for all their unwavering support. Upon being asked whether she had found it hard to counteract any social stigma attached to her entering an arena solely dominated by men, she said: “My family and the prince supported me at every step of the way. That was the main support I needed, so I didn’t really care about anyone else’s opinion. My mother and father were instrumental in the realization of my dream and they were always behind me.” She added, “Some of my friends were in favor, although some were against the career I chose.”
Prince Alwaleed reaffirmed, “I supported Capt. Hanadi to fulfill her dreams of becoming a pilot. As you can very well see, she had the complete support of her parents throughout her quest. This is because she is an honorable Muslim lady who is not doing anything in contradiction to the teachings of Islam. We must destroy the myth that allowing women to work somehow undermines our religious practices. On the absolute contrary, it is my belief that to be a good Muslim, irrespective of gender, you have to work hard and not be a burden on any society.”
Capt. Hanadi initially started out in the English Literature Department at a girls college in Makkah, where she studied for two years before moving to Umm Al-Qura University. However, her burgeoning childhood desire to enter the cockpit meant that she did not complete her studies opting for a career in the field of aviation instead.
Drawing upon her considerable experience, she told Arab News that, “women in Saudi Arabia should be given the chance to compete head-on and excel.”
The prince echoed her sentiments with his genuine forthrightness pertaining to the issue of advocacy of women’s rights. “Women should be able to choose their own careers. It is entirely up to them to decide where they work. They should always receive the fullest support and training in order to enable them to achieve their objectives. Being a good Muslim lady and working are not mutually exclusive options. It seems that the business community is finally waking up to this fact and to the reality that women can do an awful lot and have so much to offer in terms of professionalism, commitment and dedication.”
Capt. Hanadi further stressed that her diligence and tenacity were widely substantiated by the fact that she went on to take a Commercial Pilot’s License and an Instrument Rating (CPL and IR) from the Mideast Aviation Academy in support of her contention. In order to achieve her goal she claimed to have faced many obstacles, but always persevered and strove harder to eventually overcome them.
“Prince Alwaleed is the brightest star among all the luminaries shining in the sky,” she effused. “He selflessly sheds light on others without thinking of rewards or returns,” said the female pilot, who has now become a role model for many young Saudi girls.
In a recent interview, the courageous Hanadi did not rule out marriage with someone in the same line of work. She did, however, say, “I have no plans to marry in the near future despite the fact that all my sisters are already married.”
