By: Norhan Mahmoud
CAIRO, Feb. 24 (SEE)- Saudi Arabia announced that Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud will serve as the country’s ambassador to the United Stated of America, becoming the first female to assume such top diplomatic tenure.
News was declared publicly after a royal decree was issued overnight.
The soon-to-be-ambassador will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, son of King Salman, who will now revert to his country as a deputy defense minister.
“I will work with God’s permission to serve my country, its leaders and all its children and I will spare no effort to that end,” Princess Reema wrote on Twitter after the declaration.
Princess Reema is the daughter of Prince Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, the kingdom’s longtime ambassador to the U.S. and the former head of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service. Thus, she settled part of her youth in Washington and graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Museum Studies.
Meanwhile, Princess Reema presides over the Mass Participation Federation and the Deputy of Planning and Development at the Saudi General Sports Authority (GSA).
She also served as an advisor to Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
The Forbes Middle East magazine has had Princess Reema ranked 16th on its list for the 200 most powerful Arab women.
Born in Riyadh, the 44-year-old princess is known locally for her philanthropic and entrepreneurial activities in both the private and public sectors.
As soon as she returned to the kingdom in 2005, she founded “Yibreen,” a female day gym and spa. She was the CEO of Harvey Nicholas in Riyadh and is also the minds behind Baraboux, a first-rate handbag brand.
At that time, she pioneered the inclusion of women in the retail industry and her efforts fructified in establishing a smooth labor market entry and creation of the kingdom’s first workplace nursery, opening the door for more more women to join the workforce.
She has always advocated women rights and aided in spreading breast cancer awareness across the kingdom.
“10KSA” is an initiative launched by the princess’s ‘AlfKhair” social enterprise, which encounters Saudis with the concept of holistic health awareness. Thanks to creating the world’s largest pink ribbon, the campaign has a Guiness World Record to its name.
Princess Reema was married to Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Nasser with whom she had two children.
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