Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Two young Saudi women have crossed the barriers and entered into fields that were long dominated by men. They became branch managers of two car rental companies.

According to the Arabic daily Al-Madina on Sunday, the two women have opened the way for Saudi women to enter a new field of work.

In their new jobs, the two women decide the brand and model of the car to be rented, prepare the rent contract, decide the duration of the rental and negotiate prices with a view to providing the customer with easy payment options.

Maram Al-Harbe, 25, said her colleagues were keen to teach her the nitty-gritty of the job until she became the manager of the branch where she worked.

“The customers also encouraged me and supported my work,” she said adding that she was dreaming of having her own private local and international car rental companies.

Al-Harbe is a secondary school graduate but she did a number of courses in designing and secretariat work. She has also worked in marketing.

She advised working Saudi women to be modest in dressing, highly ethical, understand their limits with the customers and talk eloquently.

“The Saudi woman should be equipped with the skills necessary for selling and marketing so as to attract the largest possible number of customers,” she said.

Hadeel Al-Huwaiti, branch manager of another car rental company, said she began her job as an assistant until she became a manager.

“Due to my excellence in work, I was promoted to become a manager. I will not continue for long in this job so as not to feel bored,” she said.

Al-Huwaiti, 25, is a graduate of the media college at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.

Speaking about the most difficult moments in her job, she said once a customer came to her office to rent a car.

She said she explained all the features of the car to him when he suddenly said it was good for drifting.

“I refused to rent the car to him, canceled the contract and asked him to go away because she is against joy riding,” she said.

“Renting of cars is a big responsibility and the choice of the customer is equally important,” she said.

Al-Huwaiti asked Saudi women to be brave and not to shy away from jobs that are dominated by men.

“The Saudi woman should have self-confidence and should dedicate all her efforts to doing her job properly,” she said.