Saudi Arabian Fact Sheet: 2011

Saudi Arabia Fact Sheet

- In Saudi Arabia, women are considered legally inferior to men. They are basically considered minors under the law, not full adults; they function more like possessions of the males in their family

- Under the Saudi Guardian System, women must receive the permission of a male (husband, son, brother, etc) to attend school, receive medical attention, and apply for a passport.

- Women are forbidden to drive, even if they hold an international driver’s license

- Although more women than men graduate from Saudi universities, women make up only 5-10% of the workforce because of societal taboos on women for many career fields and government-enforced gender segregation in the workplace

- Until 2 years ago, women had no identifying documents of their own and were instead listed on their male guardian’s ID

- Saudi women are prohibited in participating in the Olympic Games in any capacity—as trainers, athletes, managers, or coaches

- There exist no women’s sports leagues in Saudi Arabia

- Saudi Arabia is the only country that does not allow the Olympic Torch into their borders

- Saudi Arabia’s behavior starkly contrasts with the principles of equality outlined in the Olympic Charter

- The International Olympic Charter states that “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”