Reema bint Bandar Al Saud

Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Arabic: ريما بنت بندر بن سلطان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود‎) is a member of House of Saud and the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. She took office as ambassador on 23 February 2019 -- becoming the first female envoy in the country's history.[3][4][5][6][7] She has advocated for female empowerment and has worked to expand opportunities for Saudi women within the Kingdom.[8][9]

Her Royal Highness

Reema bint Bandar Al Saud
11th Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States
Assumed office
February 23, 2019
MonarchKing Salman
Preceded byKhalid bin Salman
Personal details
Born
Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

1975 (age 44–45)[1]
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Spouse(s)Faisal bin Turki bin Nasser (div. 2012)[2]
ChildrenPrince Turki bin Faisal
Princess Sarah bint Faisal
ParentsBandar bin Sultan
Haifa bint Faisal
EducationGeorge Washington University
HouseHouse of Saud

Early life and education

Reema bint Bandar was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Bandar bin Sultan and Haifa bint Faisal. Reema is the great-granddaughter of Ibn Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, on her maternal and paternal sides.[10] Her maternal grandparents are King Faisal, the son of Ibn Saud, and Queen Iffat who was born to a Turkish family.[11]

She is one of eight children. Two of her siblings also work in government: Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud is the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United Kingdom and Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud is the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports (SAFEIS).

Reema spent many years in the United States where her father, Bandar, was the ambassador from 1983–2005.[12] She graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in museum studies.

While Reema was earning her degree in museum studies, she interned at L'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and at the Sackler Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.[13] She also collaborated from a distance with a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago, while her mother's "Haifa Faisal Collection" of art was displayed there.[13]

After graduation, she returned to Riyadh.[13] She joined THNK School of Creative Leadership in 2014 as a participant of Class 5 2015.[14][15]

Career

Private sector

Reema returned to Saudi Arabia in 2005. She co-founded Yibreen, a women's day gym and spa. She later assumed the role of CEO at Al Hama LLC, a luxury retail corporation. She served for several years as the CEO of Alfa International, a leading luxury retail corporation that, among other pursuits, operates the Harvey Nichols store in Riyadh.

As the CEO of Harvey Nichols in Riyadh, Reema led the inclusion of women into the retail sector, working closely with the Ministry of Labor to craft a smooth labor market entry.[16] She set the example of workforce integration by creating the Kingdom's first workplace nursery, enabling more women to work.

Reema is an active entrepreneur; her professional roles include founder and creative director of Baraboux, a luxury handbag brand that she launched in 2013.[5].

In 2013, Reema also founded Alf Khair, a social enterprise aimed at elevating the professional capital of Saudi women. One of its keystone initiatives, 10KSA, introduced the concept of holistic health awareness for a healthier Saudi community. The year-long campaign culminated into the World's Largest Human Awareness Ribbon,[17] entering into the Guinness World Records.

Reema is a member of The World Bank's advisory council[18] for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative.[19]

Public sector

As president of the Mass Participation Federation, Reema is the first woman to lead a multi-sports federation in the Kingdom, driving communities towards a more active lifestyle.[20][21]

In 2016 Reema served as the Saudi General Sports Authority's (GSA) Deputy of Planning and Development, where she has led diversity and inclusion, the development of the Kingdom's sports economy, and strategic partnerships.[22] In the very same year, she was appointed as vice president of women's affairs at the General Sports Authority (GSA).[23] In 2017, she held the position of the president of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports.[23]

Among the first achievements under Reema's mandate, is the inclusion of physical education for girls in schools.

In 2017 Reema was awarded Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sport Award in its ninth edition for her role played in the empowerment of women in the region through her spirit of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.[24]

Reema is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women in Sports Commission[25] and a member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee.[26] She is also a permanent representative to the (UNESCO).[27] Princess Reema has also been nominated to become a full member of the International Olympic Committee.[28]

In October 2019, Reema sent Rosh Hashanah greetings to Jews in the United States wishing them a happy and sweet Jewish new year. This is the first time, according to NBC news, the Saudi embassy in Washington sent such a greeting to American Jews.[29]

Leadership in business innovation and inclusive employment advocacy

Reema has gained attention on the international stage as a leader in business innovation, specifically as a champion for women in the workplace.[12] She was recognized as the Most Creative Person of the year in 2014 by Fast Company for "Inviting Women into the Workforce,"[30] and was featured on the Forbes lists of the 200 Most Powerful Arab Women and Most Powerful Arab Women in Saudi Arabia lists for 2014.[31] She was also recognized by Foreign Policy Magazine as a Leading Global Thinker of 2014 in their "Moguls" category for her work helping women to "integrate their personal and professional lives" by creating hospitable opportunities for women to participate in the economy.[32]

Reema has noted publicly that engaging women as active participants in the working economy is "evolution, not Westernization," and empowering a woman with financial responsibility will encourage her to "explore more of the world for herself and become less dependent."[12] She has also stated that Saudi Arabia "cannot have half of [the] population not working."[12]

At Harvey Nichols Riyadh, Reema was responsible for hiring more women and introducing services such as childcare available to employees with young children, providing an opportunity for mothers to continue working and also provide for their children during the workday.[12] She also began a program at Harvey Nichols that provides transportation stipends to women because the Kingdom's restrictions did not allow women to drive at that time, until September 2017 when the Saudi government decided to allow women to drive.[12] These efforts, coupled with economic policies lowering the barriers for women to enter the workforce, have led to the store employing dozens of women today (as opposed to 2011, when only men worked there).[12]

Philanthropic work

Reema Alf Khair, a corporate social responsibility initiative, whose work included an active and vocal community of creative talent in Saudi Arabia and promoted their work internationally.[33] Alf Khair also developed a retail academy, which provided training for Saudi women joining the workforce.[13] Her work in this realm also included her role as an Advisory Board Member of the Saudi National Creative Initiative.[34]

Breast cancer advocacy

Reema is a founding member of the Zahra Breast Cancer Awareness Association, based in Riyadh.[35] The mission of the organization is to "increase and spread awareness among women across the country for early detection, prevention, and treatment of the disease, and cooperate with women diagnosed with breast cancer on a step-by-step basis for treatment and ultimate recovery."[36]

Reema's work with Zahra also includes organizing the world's largest human pink ribbon in 2010.[35][37] This effort was recognized as the winner of the Holmes Report Golden Sabre Award for the Best Publicity Stunt Category and the Platinum Sabre Award for Best PR Programme.[38]

In May 2012, in conjunction with the Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Reema led a group of Saudi women to the Base Camp of Mount Everest, in a bid to raise breast cancer awareness. The cancer awareness campaign has been entitled ‘A Woman’s Journey: Destination Mount Everest.’ The 11 climbers began their trek to Base Camp located 5,364 meters above sea level on 7 May, completing their trek in 12 days.[39]

Personal life

Reema married Faisal bin Turki bin Nasser and had two children (a son, Turki; and a daughter, Sarah). They divorced in 2012.[40]

Controversy
See also: Al-Yamamah arms deal

Her ex-husband’s father was implicated in the Al-Yamamah bribery scandal, as British defence firm BAE Systems secretly paid £250 000 for a "luxury honeymoon" for Reema bint Bandar and her husband. A senior BAE executive authorised payment for a six-week honeymoon in five-star hotels, costing up to £4,000 a night, in Singapore, Malaysia, Bali, Australia and Hawaii.[41][42][43]

Ancestry

Recognition and Awards
  • In 2015, Reema bint Bandar was selected by the World Economic Forum at Davos as a Young Global Leader.[44]
  • In 2014, she was named as Foreign Policy Magazine Global Thinker Mogul.[44]
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References
  1. Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud
  2. Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family
  3. "Princess Reema bint Bandar: Saudi Arabia's first female ambassador". english.alarabiya.net. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. "Princess Reema made ambassador to US, Khaled bin Salman appointed deputy defense minister by royal decree". Arab News. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. "Saudi Arabia names princess as US ambassador in first for kingdom". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. "Saudi Prince Shows Grip on Power, Names First Female U.S. Envoy". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. Genin, Aaron (1 April 2019). "A Global, Saudi Soft Power Offensive: A Saudi Princess and Dollar Diplomacy". The California Review. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. France-Presse, Agence (24 February 2019). "Saudi Arabia appoints its first female ambassador to US". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. Griffiths, Brent D. "Saudi Arabia appoints first female ambassador to the U.S." POLITICO. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. "Princess Reema bint Bandar: Saudi Arabia's first female ambassador". 24 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  11. Coll, Steve. (2009). The Bin Ladens: an Arabian Family in the American Century. New York: Penguin.
  12. In Taking Jobs, Women Take on a Saudi Taboo, New York Times, 2 December 2013
  13. Most Creative People 2014, Fast Company, 12 May 2014
  14. Princess Reema pledges dedication in serving Saudi Arabia
  15. Reema bint Bandar
  16. Hubbard, Ben. "In Taking Jobs, Women Take On a Saudi Taboo". Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  17. "Largest human awareness ribbon". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  18. "Leadership Champions | Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative". we-fi.org. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  19. "Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative allocates first round funding; Expected to mobilize twice the original target". World Bank. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  20. "H.R.H. Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  21. "More and more Saudis embracing sports, exercise". Saudi Gazette. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  22. "Princess Reema to take the lead of Women's Division in the Global Authority of Sports under level 15". www.gsa.gov.sa. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  23. "FaceOf: Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to the US". Arab News. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  24. Reporter, Alaric Gomes, Chief (27 November 2017). "Sports personality awards for Shaikh Nahyan and Princess Rima". GulfNews. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  25. "Women in Sport Commission". International Olympic Committee. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  26. "#UnitedBy Inclusion – HRH Reema bint Bandar Al Saud – Olympic News". International Olympic Committee. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  27. Nabbout, Mariam (16 January 2020). "This Saudi princess is now representing the kingdom at the UNESCO". StepFeed. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  28. "Saudi Arabia Will Bring Back All Professional Sporting Activities On June 21st". About Her. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  29. staff, T. O. I. "In first, Saudi envoy in Washington sends Rosh Hashanah greeting to US Jews". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  30. Princess Reema Bint-Bandar Al Saud, Fast Company, June 2014
  31. 200 Most Powerful Arab Women Archived 25 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine Forbes Middle East, 2014
  32. A World Disrupted: The Leading Global Thinkers of 2014, Foreign Policy, 2014
  33. Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud Archived 15 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, THNK School of Creative Leadership
  34. Initiative Aims to Boost Creative Local Businesses, Arab News, 15 November 2014
  35. Women Leaders of the Middle East: Thousands Rally in Saudi Arabia to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer, Huffington Post, 30 May 2012
  36. Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Zahra Breast Cancer Association, 2014
  37. "Largest human awareness ribbon". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  38. Saudi PR Agency Wields Two Sabres, Gulf Marketing Review, July/August 2011
  39. Saudi women receive awards after climb to Mount Everest Base Camp, Al Arabiya News, 8 June 2012
  40. "Saudi Arabia appoints first female ambassador to US". 25 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  41. Arms firm paid $600K for Saudi royal's honeymoon
  42. BAE in Saudi honeymoon scandal
  43. Extravagance uncovered during Saudi arms probe, 10 Apr 2008, The Telegraph
  44. "Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud | Congress". www.worldcancercongress.org. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
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