Empowered by Vision: Manal Abu Al-Ela and the Rise of a New Saudi Woman

At the heart of the profound transformations unfolding in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030, Manal Abu Al-Ela stands as a powerful symbol of a new generation of Saudi women—those who have broken barriers, shattered limitations, and proven that real change is born from within, fueled by ambition and empowered by opportunity.

More than a sports trainer or prominent media figure, Manal’s journey tells a compelling story of resilience and achievement. She is the embodiment of a modern Saudi reality—one driven by empowerment, vision, and progress that knows no bounds.

As the Deputy Director of the International Women’s Martial Arts Federation (IWKBF) for the Middle East and Africa, the Managing Editor of SME News magazine in Dubai, and a certified health and nutrition coach, Manal represents a rare blend of leadership, versatility, and dedication. Her ability to balance media influence, sports leadership, and community development serves as a testament to the possibilities created by Vision 2030—a national project that placed women’s empowerment at the heart of its agenda and opened doors once sealed for decades.

“I never imagined I’d become a captain and enjoy this widespread fame without the vision and empowerment of women,” Manal says. “It made me less dependent on anyone… I persevered, I studied, I worked… and I took off.”

Her words are simple, yet they encapsulate a seismic transformation—not just in her life, but in the lives of millions of Saudi women who have witnessed profound changes in education, employment, and representation across sectors.

Indeed, Manal Abu Al-Ela is the living realization of the Vision’s goals. Women’s participation in the labor market reached 34.5% by the end of 2023, surpassing the original target of 30%. This leap confirms that the Vision is not mere rhetoric—it is a clear, executable roadmap with measurable results.

Manal draws strength from the sweeping legal and social reforms initiated under Vision 2030: enhanced legal protections, improved work environments, mother-friendly workplace policies, and programs supporting women entrepreneurs. These changes laid the foundation for her rise—enabling her to earn leadership roles in international federations and impact both the media and sports landscapes.

She reflects a success story that goes beyond the personal—she is part of a movement creating strong, visible female role models to inspire generations to come. Today, Manal doesn’t just represent herself; she stands for a new wave of Saudi women rewriting the rules and redefining what’s possible in industries historically dominated by men.

“Before the Vision, Saudi women were held back and suppressed… Today, when they saw empowerment, they took off.”

This simple phrase captures the era’s essence—an era of liberation, transformation, and leadership.

Vision 2030 has dismantled outdated stereotypes and reimagined the Saudi woman’s place in society. Today, Manal is training, educating, leading, and deciding at the highest levels. Her achievements are living proof that empowering women is not just a matter of equality—it is an economic and developmental necessity. As World Bank research repeatedly shows, sustainable growth is directly tied to increased female participation in the workforce.

Manal Abu Al-Ela: An Investment in the Nation

Manal’s journey is not just personal triumph—it reflects a larger, national strategy to transform women from marginalized figures into partners in growth. She is a model of what happens when a nation invests in its female human capital: you get a more resilient economy, a more inclusive society, and a more sustainable future.

In seizing the opportunities created by Vision 2030 and turning them into tangible results, Manal Abu Al-Ela becomes a defining voice of the Kingdom’s new chapter—one where social transformation fuels economic innovation.

“I persevered, I studied, I worked… and I took off.”

These words echo the heart of Vision 2030: not just offering opportunities, but inspiring women to seize them—boldly, confidently, and without limits.

The post Manal Abu Al-Ela: Heroine of Vision 2030 appeared first on SME News Europe.

Our green convoys continue to navigate the ethereal corridors to rescue the world’s afflicted, following the issuance of a royal decree by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on May 13, 2015, establishing the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief)—the first relief center in the Kingdom—headquartered in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The Center transcends not only geopolitical borders, but also religious and ethnic boundaries, with an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid such as food, water, medicine, shelter, and other logistical assistance. The Green Fleet includes hundreds of doctors and specialists who establish field hospitals to assist the sick and injured anywhere on Earth.

The role of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center may rival that of international organizations such as the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and the Red Cross, despite their profound differences in political orientations and agendas.

Cochlear Implants

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) is one of the world’s leading providers of cochlear implants. It launched a massive volunteer program called “Hearing Saudi Arabia,” which aims to restore hearing to children with hearing loss and disabilities in many countries around the world.

The program has implanted 1,000 cochlear implants in several African countries. The Center not only surgically restores hearing, but also provides speech and language rehabilitation services to the beneficiary children, as well as training families on speech and hearing skills—contributing to the integration of children into society.

The first cochlear implant without anesthesia was performed by a specialized Saudi medical team affiliated with the Center—an unprecedented medical and humanitarian achievement worldwide. The operation was performed on a patient in Kenya as part of the “Hearing Saudi Arabia” program.

The medical team’s successes in cochlear implants have continued in many countries. In Kenya, 28 operations were performed; in Jordan, 40 cochlear implants; and in Turkey, 66 cochlear implants were completed in just 20 hours in the city of Reyhanli.

The team also performed 27 successful cochlear implants in Senegal, and the Center launched a cochlear implant campaign in cooperation with the Al-Amin organization in Tunisia to perform operations for children in need.

Sustainability

The role of this green river is not limited to breathing life into afflicted lands everywhere—it also works to fertilize these lands for sustainable development. It has built schools to plant the seeds of knowledge in the minds and hearts devastated by wars and conflicts, while providing livelihoods through honest work and long-term sustainable development projects in more than 90 countries around the world—most notably Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Pakistan, Palestine, and others.

Our beloved Kingdom, under the guidance of our Master, Leader, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—may God protect him—has dedicated all its tireless efforts to serving thorny global issues and supporting those afflicted by wars, conflicts, and natural disasters. It has allocated air fleets for urgent relief, as well as heavy transport fleets for comprehensive relief and field work. These fleets are stationed in disaster-stricken areas around the world, then deployed in campaigns to cover the largest possible areas—just as regular armies do.

But our green armies have come to you to dry your tears, reassure your hearts, and provide security and safety for your children.

This is what our true religion has commanded us to do, and this is how the banner of monotheism will continue to flutter in people’s hearts until the Day of Judgment.

The post Green River appeared first on SME News Europe.