Nadia Al Dossary awarded 2008 Saudi Achievement Award

According to Al Dossary, who was one of six women who ran in the Asharqia Chamber's board election last year, women in Saudi Arabia are making progress. "When given the chance, Saudi businesswomen have proved to be subjective and rational in presenting themselves and this has a very positive reflection on the global image of the Saudi women in general," she said.

She said that hiring women is not a simple matter. Hiring women also draws the attention of the religious police, who monitor businesses where men and women must interact. Many companies simply find it untenable to facilitate men and women employees. Al Dossary said that the private sector should only be viewed as a "partner in the education and recruitment movement" and cannot move forward without the government's lead.