The Saudi 2030 vision states it is committed to empowering women through education and employment, but the literature scarcely addresses their everyday realities. This paper utilises a critical realist perspective to examine the mechanisms emerging from the interplay of structural and cultural factors that impact women's empowerment concerning local realities in Saudi Arabia. Situated within a broader study, this research explores the qualitative element of women's work and education experiences by analysing policy documents and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that structure and culture have a diverse impact on education and employment, which may ultimately lead to disempowerment.