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On Saudi National Day: 3oud Celebrates Inspiring Saudi Women

Sep 23, 2025

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مقالات رشا الصباح

On Saudi National Day, we pause to celebrate our nation and its remarkable achievements. It is a time when national pride is renewed, and we take pride in the Kingdom's progress and prosperity. We also honor the stories of success and inspiration that illuminate the country's future. Among these stories are those of Saudi women who have played a pivotal role in shaping chapters of creativity and excellence across diverse fields, proving that ambition and innovation know no bounds, from education and medicine to space, arts, and entrepreneurship. In this article, we highlight some of these inspiring women and celebrate their contributions, which embody the spirit of progress and distinction that defines the Kingdom on its National Day.

Mishaal Ashemimry:

Mishaal Ashemimry is a Saudi-American aerospace engineer, commercial pilot, and entrepreneur in the aviation and space sectors. Born in the United States, she spent part of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, where her passion for space began at the age of six. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mathematics, as well as a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Ashemimry has extensive experience in aerodynamics, rocket design, wind tunnel testing, and computational tool development, contributing to more than twenty different rocket programs. She continues to share her passion and inspire others through lectures and social media.

She is recognized as the first aerospace engineer in the GCC, leveraging social media to educate and inspire the public about aviation and space. Her professional roles include professor at the University of Miami, Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation for diversity initiatives, and advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission. In the United States, she worked as a consultant in nuclear space propulsion at Northrop Grumman.

Driven by her ultimate dream of building rockets, Ashemimry founded Mishaal Space at the age of twenty six. She also previously worked in the aerodynamics department at Raytheon Missile Systems, contributing to twenty two different rocket programs.

Raha Moharrak:

Raha Moharrak was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1986, and is recognized as the youngest Arab and the first Saudi woman to climb Mount Everest. Prior to this achievement, she summited several other notable peaks, including Kilimanjaro, Mount Vinson, Mount Elbrus, Aconcagua, Kala Patar, Pico de Orizaba, and Tajamulco.

Moharrak graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a degree in Visual Communication and is currently pursuing an MBA in Women's Leadership at Synergy University in Dubai. She lives in Dubai and works as a graphic designer.

In February 2013, she reached the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak outside Asia, within an exploratory team, marking her as one of the pioneering women in mountaineering. In 2017, she completed the Seven Summits, becoming the first Saudi woman to achieve this extraordinary milestone.

Haifa Al Mansour:

Haifa Al Mansour was born in August 1974 and is a pioneering Saudi film director, recognized as one of the first female directors in the Kingdom. The daughter of poet Abdul Rahman Al Mansour, she developed a passion for cinema from a young age thanks to her father. She studied Comparative Literature at the American University in Cairo before completing a Master's degree in Film Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Al Mansour began her career with short films, notably "The Only Way Out", which won several international awards. She then directed the documentary "Women Without Shadows", screened at 17 international festivals and awarded multiple prizes.

Her first feature film, "Wadjda", premiered globally at the Venice Film Festival in 2012. It was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and was selected to represent the Kingdom in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards, marking the first time Saudi Arabia submitted a film for an Oscar.

Haifa Al Mansour has also served on juries for international film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, establishing herself as a pivotal figure in Saudi and Arab cinema.

HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud:

Her Royal Highness Ambassador Reema Bandar Al Saud is a symbol of leadership and women's empowerment in Saudi Arabia. She has served as the Saudi Ambassador to the United States since February 2019, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the Kingdom's history.

Ambassador Reema has worked to promote the inclusion of women and youth across various sectors. She previously served as Vice President for Women's Affairs at the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia and later as President of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports, becoming the first woman to lead a multi sport federation in the Kingdom. Currently, she chairs the Women's Committee and sits on the board of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and has also led the Fashion Committee at the Ministry of Culture.

Internationally, she serves as a member of the International Olympic Committee, the IMF Advisory Board for Entrepreneurship, and the Board of the Future Investment Initiative Institute. In addition, Ambassador Reema founded Catmosphere and WAVE, two global initiatives dedicated to promoting well being and protecting and restoring oceans. Through her work, she has become a highly influential figure both nationally and globally in diplomacy, sports, and environmental advocacy.

Taleedah Tamer:

Taleedah Tamer is a Saudi model and the first Saudi woman to participate in a haute couture fashion show in Paris, and the first Saudi woman to appear on the cover of an international magazine. She began her modeling career with Korloff Jewelry and worked as a model for Rubaiyat Magazine before making history by appearing on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Arabia in July and August 2018, becoming the first Saudi woman featured on an international magazine cover and global editorial campaign.

On July 2, 2018, she opened the Antonio Grimaldi Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2018-2019 fashion show in Paris, wearing an all white pantsuit and abaya, making her the first Saudi to participate in Paris Couture Fashion Week. She concluded the show in a silver gown adorned with feathered wings, leaving a lasting impression on the international fashion scene.

Rayyanah Barnawi:

Rayyanah Barnawi, born in September 1988 in Saudi Arabia, is the country's pioneering astronaut. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Otago in New Zealand, followed by a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal University in Riyadh, where she specialized in stem cell adhesion and breast cancer research.

Before being selected for space, Barnawi worked as a research lab technician at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh, spending over nine years in stem cell and tissue research.

On May 21, 2023, Barnawi embarked on her space mission AX-2 aboard the Dragon 2 spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She arrived at the International Space Station on May 22, 2023, becoming the first Saudi woman in space and the first Saudi to reach orbit. During her 10 day mission, she conducted over 20 scientific experiments in stem cell research, breast cancer, the effects of space on human health, and cloud seeding technology.

In 2024, Barnawi participated in the "Space MADAK" competition organized by the Saudi Space Commission, one of the largest space science competitions in the Arab world. She was awarded the Visionary Award by the Middle East Institute, the institute’s highest annual honor, in recognition of her impactful contributions to space research.

In October 2024, Guinness World Records recognized her as the first Arab woman astronaut to travel to space, following her participation in the AX-2 mission alongside astronaut Ali AlQarni.

Sofana Dahlan:

Sofana Dahlan is a Saudi lawyer and social entrepreneur, born in Mecca. She is among the first three women in Saudi Arabia to receive a license to practice law. Dahlan has worked as a legal consultant in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Kuwait, and served as Deputy Governor for Entrepreneurship Development at the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority from 2016 to 2017, becoming the first Saudi woman to hold a senior position in economic policymaking.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Cairo University, a postgraduate degree in Islamic Law from the Higher Institute for Islamic Studies, and an MBA from the American University of Technology. She also attended executive programs at Harvard University, earning an executive degree in Global Leadership and Public Policy.

Dahlan has founded several social enterprises aimed at empowering youth and developing the creative industries in Saudi Arabia, including:

Tashkeil: A Saudi social enterprise that incubates and accelerates creative entrepreneurs.

Kayan Space and Studios: A co-working space for professional creators and entrepreneurs.

Saudi National Creative Initiative (SNCI): A platform to enhance creative knowledge and map Saudi Arabia's creative industries in line with Vision 2030.

Throughout her career, Dahlan has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Most Innovative Woman Entrepreneur (2014), WEF Young Global Leader from the World Economic Forum (2015), Female Entrepreneur of the Year by Arab Women Awards, and Leadership Excellence in Social Entrepreneurship (2018).

She is regarded as a role model for Saudi women, advocating for cultural and social causes, and serving on the board of Khadija Bint Khuwailid Centre. Dahlan has delivered talks at international platforms such as TEDxWomen in Barcelona, BOLDtalks Woman, and Pecha Kucha in Beirut, and has written extensively on women's rights, interfaith dialogue, and social values, becoming an influential figure in culture, entrepreneurship, and creativity in the Kingdom.

Emon Shakoor:

Emon Shakoor is a neuroscientist turned technology entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Blossom Accelerator, the first Saudi accelerator focused on technology integration and women's empowerment. The accelerator provides founders with access to a business community, educational resources, investment opportunities, and mentorship from industry experts. Shakoor also serves as a member of the advisory board of "Aqal Network" for angel investing.

Before entering the entrepreneurial world, Shakoor earned a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and conducted research in neuroscience, studying the role of mirror neurons in social cognition. Her research has been recognized for its academic excellence.

Shakoor is an active member of the Saudi community. She is affiliated with Jeddah Hub, a Global Shaper, and served as a delegate for the "30 Under 30" group at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

In 2017, she co founded the "Tech Entrepreneurship Race", a non-profit initiative designed to challenge Saudi youth to create tech startups and cultivate entrepreneurial thinking, in partnership with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship.

Shakoor has received numerous accolades, including being the youngest Saudi founder and CEO invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos, recognition as one of "About Her's 20 Under 30", and honors for her pioneering neuroscience research on mirror neurons at UCSD. Sara Al Rashid

Sara Al Rashid:

Sara Al Rashid is the founder of Asteri Beauty, a Gulf-based cosmetic brand designed to withstand the challenges of the desert climate. Born and raised in Riyadh, where she currently resides, Sara began her journey in creativity and design through an internship at Studio 1508 for interior architecture in London. She returned to Saudi Arabia in 2018 to launch her first ethical and cruelty-free beauty brand.

ASTERI Beauty is the first local brand crafted specifically for the Gulf region, offering vegan, halal, and desert resistant makeup. The brand was inspired by Sarah's personal experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she faced skin sensitivity issues caused by the extreme heat and humidity, and found a lack of suitable beauty products for her needs.

With her background in interior architecture, design thinking, and user experience, Sarah brings a refined artistic touch to every aspect of ASTERI Beauty, from product design to brand storytelling, blending sophistication, modernity, and authentic Arab identity.

ASTERI Beauty is expanding thoughtfully across retail markets in the Gulf, maintaining strong brand presence while staying true to its core values. Current retail locations include Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Al Khobar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Sara Al Rashed represents a new model of a designer turned entrepreneur, building an innovative, fast growing beauty brand and redefining modern brand development in the Middle East.