It wasn't until June 2018 that women in Saudi Arabia had the legal right to drive a car, and behind this right is the story of a maverick woman who dared to fight for it for 10 years and constantly challenged the authority of the royal family.
She is Princess Ameina, who was once married to Prince Waleed, the richest man in Saudi Arabia. She is a smart, independent, and aspiring woman who has demonstrated outstanding abilities in both her studies and career.
Over the years, she has worked for women to have the same rights as men, and even after divorcing Prince Waleed many years later, she continued to pursue her goals and devote herself to the cause she loved. Contribute to the development of women's and children's welfare.
Ameina's parents divorced when she was a child because of emotional discord, and after that, Ameena lived with her mother. Her mother, a strong and assertive woman, took Amina back to her parents' home.
Ameina's maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother had a very good family and her maternal grandfather was a successful businessman, so although Ameina experienced the divorce of her parents, she did not suffer any grievances due to her family's wealth.
Her mother also attached great importance to her cultivation and education, which was rare in Saudi Arabia, where the status of women was not high at that time, and Amena did not live up to her mother's expectations, and after graduating from high school, she was admitted to the University of New Haven to study business administration with excellent grades.
She has always been outstanding in school, she is naturally sweet, and she has become a celebrity in the school because of her tall figure. During her college years, Amena was given a special opportunity to interview Prince Waleed, the richest man in Saudi Arabia, because of her excellent professional grades.
This interview not only changed her life, but also allowed her to meet people who have influenced her life. In the years that followed, her relationship with Prince Waleed gradually warmed up, and she eventually became his wife.
Prince Al-Waleed is the richest man in Saudi Arabia and has been the richest man in the Middle East for many years, with an estimated wealth of tens of billions of dollars. He is a descendant of the 21st son of Saudi Arabia's founding monarch and has achieved great success in the field of investment and business through his own efforts and ingenuity.
Sectors include real estate, banking, telecommunications, film, hospitality, and other industries to diversify their portfolios. He is a major investor in a number of well-known companies including Citigroup, Apple Inc., and Twitter Inc.
Having received a Western education, he always adhered to monogamy and divorced three times before marrying Amina. Although they are 28 years older than Ameena and their marriage is considered by the outside world to be full of money, after marriage, Waldley doted on Ameina.
He did not ask Ameina to teach her husband and children at home, but let her do what she wanted and liked to do, and she began to actively participate in social activities and exert her influence through the Internet and other channels. Use your visibility and influence to call attention to issues such as women's rights, education and child welfare.
She has also been involved in several charitable projects to help the underprivileged. Waldley also founded the Charity Association for Amaina, which has visited 71 countries and maintained close contacts with dignitaries from many countries.
She is very concerned about the rights and interests of Arab women, and publicly stated on the international mainstream**: she hopes that women in Saudi Arabia can drive independently, travel alone, and work freely like women in other countries. At the same time, she also advocated that women in Saudi Arabia can have equal rights to inherit and custody of their children. Everything she does has the silent support of Prince Waldley.
Never before in Saudi Arabia's history has there been such a maverick who dared to speak out publicly for women's rights on the international stage, and Ameina's series of actions challenged the authority of the royal family, which eventually led to the royal family's dissatisfaction with Wadley and serious warnings.
This has also led to some changes in the relationship between the two. In 2013, the two announced their divorce. After the divorce, Ameena was still busy with the development of philanthropy.
In 2017, Saudi Arabia launched a huge "anti-corruption" campaign, a number of princes** were imprisoned, and Wadley, who had been against the royal family, was also killed, and after 3 months of house arrest, he was released by handing over $6 billion bail.
At this time, Amena had already remarried someone else and became a mother. For the sake of her husband and children, she was able to bend and stretch, choose to back down at the right time, hide her edge in some public occasions, and like other Arab women, wear the traditional black robe and black veil, and be cautious in her words and deeds.
Ameina's upbringing and career showcase a strong, independent, and aspirational image of a woman. Through her efforts and talents, she has achieved significant achievements in Saudi society and on the international stage. Her story inspires many people to pursue their dreams, unconstrained by traditional notions and societal constraints.