McDonald’s Saudi Arabia announced the graduation of its first female batch of 23 shift leaders from the Himmah development program on May 14, 2026. The company said in a statement that the employees completed training in leadership, operational skills, teamwork and shift management, qualifying them for supervisory positions in its restaurants across the kingdom. This milestone comes as Saudi Arabia continues to advance women’s economic participation under Vision 2030.
The Himmah program provided a comprehensive training journey focused on practical workplace excellence and leadership readiness, McDonald’s Saudi Arabia said in the statement. «The graduation of this first batch of female Shift Leaders through the “Himmah” program embodies McDonald’s Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting and empowering Saudi women and strengthening their active participation in the labor market, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which places significant emphasis on women’s empowerment and increasing their contribution to national development,» the statement added. General Authority for Statistics data shows the female labor force participation rate reached 36.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024. The figure reflects steady gains that have seen the rate more than double since 2017.
McDonald’s Saudi Arabia operates more than 438 restaurants in the kingdom, according to company information. Oxford Economics estimated that the business supported more than 22,500 jobs and added approximately SAR3.6 billion to gross domestic product from April 2024 through March 2025. The Himmah initiative continues a pattern of talent development programs, following earlier schemes such as Tomooh that promoted Saudi nationals to restaurant manager roles.
Training under Himmah emphasized building skills for long-term career advancement within the organization. Participants gained experience in team coordination and operational oversight essential for shift leadership. The company indicated that the program opens new professional opportunities for Saudi female talent in the competitive food service industry.
In the statement, McDonald’s Saudi Arabia indicated plans to introduce additional initiatives aimed at national human capital development. Riyadh International Catering Company, the franchise operator, has positioned such programs as central to its community contributions. The efforts coincide with broader labor market reforms that have elevated Saudi women’s representation in multiple economic sectors.
Similar programs have been implemented across the private sector to meet Saudization requirements. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has tracked rising employment rates among Saudi women in recent years. PwC assessments of GCC talent development have noted the importance of structured training programs like Himmah in building a skilled local workforce. These steps help address skills gaps while promoting inclusive growth.
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