Photo: CNN
There’s no stopping HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan. Just weeks after she was appointed as Saudi Arabia‘s first female ambassador to the United States, the royal has been tapped to head the Gulf country’s newly-established Special Olympics Federation. The news comes just days before the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, set to kick off in the UAE capital between March 14-21. The Saudi Special Olympics Federation was established by HRH Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee.
The new role is fitting for the princess, who has long been a prominent female figure in sports in Saudi Arabia, breaking down barriers for female athletes in the country. For decades, Her Royal Highness has been shattering glass ceilings and pushing against boundaries for Saudi women across the Kingdom. In recognition of these efforts, in 2016, she was appointed Vice President for Women’s Affairs of the General Sports Authority in the kingdom, just days before the 2016 Olympics.
The royal was also appointed as president of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports, and successfully pushed for the inclusion of physical education for girls in schools in 2017. A year later, she received the HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award for her ongoing mission to empower women in the region.
A staunch advocator for the empowerment of women, the ambitious businesswoman, entrepreneur, and humanitarian continues to build upon her long list of achievements and initiatives. Aside from being placed on Forbes’ list of 200 Most Powerful Arab Women in 2014, she’s also the founder of accessories label, Baraboux. Additionally, Her Royal Highness is the CEO of luxury retail company Alfa International (where she initiated the hiring of female employees) and she’s a member of Uber’s Public Policy Advisory board. Her vision to provide Saudi women with a safe mode of transportation spurred the launch of the online travel service in the Kingdom.
The George Washington University graduate also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pink ribbon formed by women through her 10KSA initiative—a breast cancer campaign that spread awareness and raised funds for the Zahra Breast Cancer Association.
Now Read: What Does the Launch of Another Music Institute in Saudi Arabia Mean for the Country?
