Table of Contents
Saudi Arabia is home to a remarkable group of women who have defied societal expectations and emerged as true trailblazers. Their achievements have shattered barriers, inspired generations, and left an indelible mark on their communities and the world.
In this collection, we celebrate 10 inspiring Saudi women whose unstoppable spirit and unwavering determination continue to motivate and empower us every day.
Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud
She is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, and advocate for women’s rights and empowerment in KSA. Al Saud has been named as one of Forbes’ 200 Most Powerful Arab Women in 2014.
Mishaal Ashemimry
She is the first Saudi woman to join NASA and is the CEO of Mishaal Aerospace, a company she has founded.
Mishaal’s title of the GCC’s first female aerospace engineer is an inspiration to all young girls aspiring to be in the STEM industry.
Hanan Balkhy
Dr. Hanan is a leading figure at the World Health Organization (WHO), she is the executive director of Infection Prevention and Control and the assistant director general of the Antimicrobial Resistance department at WHO.
This leading lady is also an Associate Professor at the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science, with 100+ publications under her name.
Tasneem Sultan
Tasneem is an emerging investigative photojournalist in Saudi Arabia. At 32, she is a well-known figure for her work on gender and social issues in Saudi.
She has already been making her mark in the region and internationally, she was chosen by the British Journal of Photography among the best 16 emerging photographers to watch and PDN’s 30 photographers to watch in 2017.
She has documented more than 120 weddings in Saudi and across the globe and in 2016, Tasneem’s wedding photography was featured in National Geographic.
Latifa Al Abdulkarim
She is the Assistant Professor in Artificial Intelligence and a Researcher in AI and Law at the University of Liverpool and KSA. Al Abdulkarim has also worked as an AI advisor to the Saudi government, leading the national strategic direction of AI and AI governance – making her an exemplary role model especially for young girls to enter the world of AI.
Reem Bint Mansour Al Saud
She has represented Saudi during the UN 2030 agenda negotiations and is a major figure in fighting for gender rights and equality in Saudi Arabia and across the world.
She holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern studies from Oxford and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where her work focuses on strengthening Saudi labor policies.
Since 2015, Dr. Al Saud is a member of the KSA’s permanent deletion to the UN in New York.
Thoraya Obeid
Dr. Thoraya is the first Saudi to lead a UN organization. In 2001, she was selected to lead UNFPA and held the position of Under-Secretary-General of the UN.
She previously served as UNFPA’s Director of Division for the Arab States and Europe.
Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud
She is a prominent and highly valued figure due to her humanitarian work and philanthropic work in sustainable and inclusive development for the most vulnerable and underprivileged.
Princess Lamia was recently elected as the first-ever regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab States by the United Nations Humans Settlement Programme at the 10th session of the World Urban Forum.
She is also the Secretary General of Al-Waleed Philanthropies.
Haifa Al Mansour
Al Mansour is an empowering voice for women in Saudi Arabia. She is the first Saudi woman filmmaker, and her first feature film Wadjda was the country’s first Oscars submission, under the Best Foreign Language Oscar category in 2014.
Mariam Saleh Bin Laden
Dr. Mariam is the only woman in history to swim the entire length of London’s River Thames to raise awareness about Syria’s refugee crisis.
She is an athlete, a humanitarian, and professionally a dentist. Her notable wor includes opening the first dental practice in Jordan’s Al Azraq Refugee Camp in 2016 – free of charge for patients.
The stories of these incredible Saudi women serve as a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and the pursuit of one’s dreams. They have demonstrated that gender should never be a limitation to achieving greatness, and their unwavering dedication has paved the way for countless others to follow in their footsteps.
Stay updated on all the latest news by subscribing to the ITP Live newsletter below or by clicking the push notifications.