The first woman to lead a Saudi multi-sports federation
In short: In a landscape of rapid transformation, Reema bint Bandar Al Saud broke a historic ceiling. Before becoming the nation's first female ambassador, she pioneered the inclusion of physical education for girls and led a multi-sports federation, championing the idea that a nation cannot thrive while half its population remains sidelined.
Reema bint Bandar Al Saud's career is defined by her role as a catalyst for female economic and social integration in Saudi Arabia. Her work often centered on dismantling practical barriers to employment. For instance, while serving as CEO of the Harvey Nichols store in Riyadh, she established the Kingdom's first workplace nursery and introduced transportation stipends for women during a period when they were legally restricted from driving. These initiatives were designed to facilitate the transition of women into the retail sector, which previously employed only men in 2011.
Her influence extends into the realm of sports and public health. Following her 2016 appointment as the Saudi General Sports Authority's Vice President of Women’s Affairs, she achieved a milestone as the Kingdom's initial female head of a multi-sports federation. Under her mandate, physical education for girls was included in schools. She also co-founded the Zahra Breast Cancer Awareness Association, leading a high-profile 2012 expedition where 11 Saudi women trekked to the base camp of Mount Everest—reaching 5,364 meters above sea level—to raise awareness for early detection.
Beyond domestic policy, Reema has been recognized globally as a 'Leading Global Thinker' by Foreign Policy Magazine in 2014. She has consistently argued that engaging women in the economy is 'evolution, not revolution,' emphasizing that financial responsibility fosters independence. Her diplomatic career reached a milestone in 2019 when she became the first woman ambassador in Saudi history, appointed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz to represent the nation in the United States.
Her background is deeply rooted in the Saudi royal family; she is the great-granddaughter of Ibn Saud on both her maternal and paternal sides. This lineage, combined with her education in museum studies at George Washington University and her selection as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2015, has positioned her as a central figure in the Kingdom's modern era.
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