Saudi women stand guard in Makkah during Haj

A Saudi police female officer stands guard as pilgrims perform final Tawaf during the annual Haj pilgrimage, in Makkah on Tuesday.

Inspired by her late father’s career, Mona decided to join the military and the first group of Saudi women soldiers to work at holiest sites, where they are helping secure the Haj annual pilgrimage. Since April, dozens of female soldiers have become part of the security services that monitor pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah. Dressed in a military khaki uniform, Mona spends her shifts roaming in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. “I am following the steps of my late father to complete his journey, standing here at the Grand mosque in Makkah, the holiest place. To serve the worshippers is a very noble and honourable task,” said Mona, who declined to give her family name. Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman has pushed through social and economic reforms as part of plans to modernise the kingdom and attract foreign investment under a diversification drive. Under his reform plan, known as Vision 2030, the crown prince lifted a driving ban on women, allowed adult women to travel without permission from guardians and granted them more control over family matters. Saudi Arabia has restricted the Haj to its own citizens and residents for the second year in a row, barring millions of other pilgrims from abroad in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Samar, another soldier watching pilgrims near the Kaaba, said she was encouraged by her family to join the military, after psychology studies. “This is a huge accomplishment for us and it is the biggest pride to be in the service of religion, the country and the guests of God, the most merciful,” she said.