BUILD them a city, and they will come!



That's the idea behind a women-only city in Saudi Arabia to encourage women to pursue careers without breaking the nation's strict Islamic laws.



Designs for the exclusive city are underway with construction expected to begin next year, the Daily Mail reports.



It is thought Saudi Industrial Property Authority, Modon, has been asked to develop the city in the Eastern city of Hafuf.



Saudi Sharia law doesn't ban women from working, but figures show only 15 per cent of the workforce is female.



The controversial city will have women-run firms and production lines for women.






It's expected to lure 500 million riyals (AU$125m) in investments and generate about 5000 jobs in the textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing industries.



''I'm sure that women can demonstrate their efficiency in many aspects and clarify the industries that best suits their interests, their nature and their ability'', Modon's deputy director-general, Saleh Al-Rasheed, told Saudi daily newspaper al-Eqtisadiah.



Saudi’s existing industrial cities already have factories owned by women, as well as companies that employ a small portion of the female population and Saleh Al Rasheed added: ''We are now working on a second industrial city for women.



''We have plans to establish a number of women-only industries in various parts of the kingdom''.