Space, Mt. Everest and the deep ocean: 6 inspiring Saudi women conquering the world (and beyond)
Space, Mt. Everest and the deep ocean: 6 inspiring Saudi women conquering the world (and beyond)
In honour of International Women's Day, we sat down with six trailblazing Saudi women who are pushing and redefining the realms of travel and adventure through extraordinary journeys
08 March 24
International Women's Day: Successful Saudi Women You Should Know
These six Saudi women are no strangers to breaking boundaries and redefining notions of adventure and travel, and in this piece, they share with us their extraordinary journeys, as well as their pursuit of fun and leisure.
Yasmine Idriss
Life lessons from a record-breaking bike ride
In the span of 20 challenging days, Yasmine Idriss recently undertook an arduous cycling journey, navigating unforgiving terrains of raw volcanic and icy roads. Carrying a load of around 32kg, comprising camping gear, equipment, water, and other trip essentials, she emerged as the first Saudi and Arab woman to conquer Iceland's Ring Road—a gruelling 1,500km circuit. This remarkable feat left Idriss with a resolute conviction that our true responsibility lies in pursuing our inherent calling rather than succumbing to societal obligations.
Beyond her cycling triumph, Idriss is the visionary force behind Solana, a sustainable, handcrafted footwear brand that draws inspiration from diverse global cultures. Launched in Beirut in 2017, she eventually moved production to an atelier in Spain, where she leverages the tradition of espadrilles and reinterprets it with a worldly approach.
Born in Jeddah to an artist mother and entrepreneur father, Idriss attended boarding school in Switzerland and then attended business school in Massachusetts, with a pit stop in NYC for some classes at Parsons and a few internships. Her personal journey fully intertwined with her professional path as an entrepreneur.
“To me, pushing boundaries means discovering the unknown in myself. Much like adventure and exploration, it is going into the void, the unknown, and discovering the lessons and treasures that lie there. I call them treasures, because anything that takes an inner journey to reach will have a treasure awaiting us, in one form or another,” she explains.
“On a collective level, pushing boundaries means two things for me. First, it opens a new door for others and invites them into this newfound level of freedom. Second, it offers an example, which ideally, makes the idea of pushing one's own boundaries less daunting. When someone’s done something for the first time, that’s a permission slip for everyone else to pursue something that had previously seemed inaccessible to them; to go after a “first” of their own,” Idriss continues.
When she’s not overseeing shoe production or riding on Jeddah’s newly renovated corniche, she finds respite at Meraki Artisan, a café that promotes exploration, world travel, and a balanced lifestyle through its globally sourced coffee and chocolate. “The space, with its floor to ceiling windows and green wall, is conducive to dreaming and scheming. I like that they offer both a communal workspace at the bar as well as more private seating for more intimate conversations. You often see regulars, which creates a sense of community and familiarity, and the staff is always pleasant,” she explains.
Mishaal Ashemimry
Shattering glass ceilings and reaching for the stars
As the first female aerospace engineer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the first Saudi woman to have joined NASA, Mishaal Ashemimry has shattered glass ceilings and is now helping to steer the Kingdom towards the forefront of the global space market. A trailblazing aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, commercial pilot, and influential speaker, she’s making waves in the aerospace industry.
Currently serving as the Vice President for Diversity Initiatives at the International Astronautical Federation and a Special Advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), Ashemimry is committed to advancing diversity and bolstering Saudi's role in space exploration. Her expertise was honed during her tenure as a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman in the US.
When Ashemimry was only 26, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace, a groundbreaking launch vehicle company specialising in deploying small satellites (≤ 500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit, and developed a proprietary rocket she called the M Rocket Series. Her journey includes significant contributions to rocket programs at Raytheon Missile Systems’ Aerodynamics Department, showcasing her exceptional skills and dedication to advancing aerospace technology. Now Ashemimry is not just reaching for the stars, she's also propelling Saudi's presence in the cosmos. “It is natural for me and it’s what is ingrained in me. It’s like swimming for a goal but then pushing beyond. I always try to set a goal and push beyond it in everything I do,” she explains. “I simply face challenges one at a time.”
Born in the US, her passion for space was ignited at the age of six in the Unaizah desert, while visiting Saudi with her family. She studied Aerospace Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, and graduated with two majors: Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mathematics. She also obtained her MS in Aerospace Engineering from the same institute. Her research, which was based on Nuclear Thermal Rockets, was funded by NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre.
Regardless of where her work takes her, Ashemimry’s go-to fashion label is Rag & Bone. She sources the very laidback lifestyle brand, founded in New York City’s West village, at Bloomingdale’s KSA or on Ounass.com, a luxury platform that offers impressive two-hour delivery.
In her downtime, she explores the opposite end of the planet’s atmosphere, scuba diving in the Red Sea, which is praised by scuba divers from around the world for its large reefs, exceptional visibility, rich and varied ecosystem, and year-round dive-able water temperatures.
Raha Moharrak
Trailblazing beyond the world’s highest peak
In case you missed it, Raha Moharrak is a trailblazing woman known for her remarkable achievements in the field of mountaineering. Born in Jeddah, she made history by becoming the first Saudi woman to summit Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in 2013. Raha's groundbreaking accomplishment was a powerful symbol of women's empowerment in a society where gender roles were traditionally restrictive.
Prior to her mountaineering endeavours, she pursued a degree in visual communications from the American University of Sharjah in the UAE. Her passion for adventure and challenge led her to take on mountaineering, and her determination to break barriers has inspired many across the globe ever since.
Moharrak's journey goes beyond personal triumphs; she has been an advocate for gender equality and has spoken about the importance of pushing boundaries and overcoming societal expectations. Her story resonates with individuals seeking to challenge norms and redefine possibilities. Moharrak's courage and resilience serve as a beacon for those aspiring to conquer their own metaphorical mountains and redefine societal expectations.
“Challenges, whether real or imagined, are opportunities for growth. Pushing limits to me means daring to step out of my comfort zone, confronting obstacles head-on, and discovering the extraordinary within myself,” she says. “Going the distance and pushing boundaries means embracing challenges with enthusiasm, striving for excellence, and continually surpassing expectations.”
As an outdoor enthusiast, she recommends the serene beauty of Al Soudah Mountains, where every trail offers breathtaking views and a sense of tranquillity that she says “rejuvenates the soul.”
“I’m not much of a coffee drinker,” she admits, “but my favourite coffee shop is Bateel, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee blends perfectly with the warmth of friendly conversations and delicious dates.”
When it comes to food, she has an admitted weakness for soul-warming Italian cuisine. “It’s difficult to choose a favourite restaurant, but if I must, then Loren is my latest choice, where every dish is a symphony of flavour that transports you to the heart of Italy,” she muses.
For Moharrak, the word “shopping” conjures well-stocked shelves of hardcovers and paperbacks. She looks for traditional bookstores where “every visit feels like embarking on a literary adventure, exploring timeless classics and discovering new treasures.”
When it's time to indulge in luxury and relaxation, the well-travelled hiker loves local boutique hotels but encourages us to step out of our comfort zone, highlighting one of her extraordinary stays at Xigera in Botswana, for its “impeccable service, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking views that create an unforgettable experience of serenity and bliss in the heart of the Okavango Delta.”
Noura Bin Saidan
Highlighting history in a most contemporary way
Riyadh's first graffiti artist doesn’t like to think about limits, but Noura Bin Saidan does prefer to be called a muralist. Her commissioned artworks on urban walls across the kingdom have become tourist attractions in themselves, for art aficionados looking to discover Saudi culture from a unique perspective.
A fine arts graduate, Bin Saidan favours public walls to galleries, a medium that is accessible to a wider audience. The young artist has forged an unlikely path in a culture built on conservative tradition, but she is steadfast in pushing boundaries to showcase a country she loves. “I do things of value that add more to me. I'm like an eagle swimming upward.”
From collaborating with MDLBEAST to fronting global Adidas campaigns and a 40m-long and 30m-high mural at the Riyadh Zoo, she has clearly connected with a generation ready for new ideas, and is forging a new path for a small but growing community of Saudi female graffiti artists.
Bin Saidan’s hometown haunts include Kermez Cafe, a family-owned business known for its decadent chocolate croissants and melt-in-your-mouth cookies. For a culinary escape, she gathers with friends at San Carlo Cicchetti, an outpost of the much-loved London restaurant, for shared plates of Venetian-style cuisine such as piled-high bruschetta and fresh burrata. Harvey Nichols is her go-to for fashion that transcends local customs, with its healthy mix of local and international designers that will satisfy even the most demanding globetrotter, and a notable Ramadan-ready selection of chic abayas. Meanwhile, she directs out-of-towners to the Four Seasons. Located in Kingdom Tower and only a 20-minute drive from the Old Souq, it offers an outdoor pool and modern, spacious rooms, as well as access to tennis courts, squash courts, and a racquetball court.
Nouf Alosaimi
Shedding light on Saudi’s underwater beauty
Born in Taif on a raised valley surrounded by the Hejaz Mountains, Nouf Alosaimi actually discovered diving while studying in Manchester, UK, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Tourism Management. Missing the sun, she headed to Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh for a vacation, where she signed up for a PADI Discover Scuba Dive. It was love at first sight and the rest is history, as they say. She has dedicated her life to diving ever since, with the creation of Pink Bubbles in 2013, a female diving community to empower and encourage Saudi women to take the plunge. In 2017, she organised the first PADI Women’s Dive Day event in Saudi, followed by a ladies-only diving trip to Sharm El Sheikh.
She eventually completed her PADI Divemaster course in Jeddah and has made scuba diving a full-time job. After three years as an underwater photographer and diving guide in Sharm El Sheikh, she became a full-fledged PADI instructor in 2013. She has been training other scuba diving enthusiasts since. She continues to host dives across the Middle East and beyond, including shark dives in the Maldives.
Though she generally enjoys spending time either at home or in the sea, she makes an exception for the exceptional cortado coffee and monkey breads at Sara’s Cafe. She also recommends the manakish with beetroot and goat cheese. “Sarah founded the cafe before all the changes that happened in Saudi, so I was really proud of her and I saw how it all grew. She travels and is passionate about learning new recipes, and everything is made with love and fine ingredients,” Alosaimi says.
When asked about shopping tips, she is quick to point out that she’s “not a big fan of spending a long time in the mall, or the type who goes shopping, honestly unless I need something.” But when solid ground gear is needed, her go-to is “Oysho, because they have very comfy clothes for all seasons, and I like comfortable clothes.”
On most days, you might find her halfway between Jeddah and Yanbu, diving at the Five Sisters dive site in Rabigh. Because it’s off-shore, its reefs are especially colourful and healthy, and you might come across scorpions and frog fish, which are often easy to miss, and sharks. Alosaimi has, in fact, made it a mission to educate the public about sharks, which it turns out kill fewer people each year than coconuts falling from trees.
For an authentic hotel experience, Alosaimi suggests Shada Hotel. “I love how they pay homage to Southern Saudi culture. They pay attention to the smallest details and have an authentic design, but in a modern way. Nestled in Jeddah’s lively Al Shatea District, you’ll find a curated selection of local crafts in their shop, including locally-made pottery coffee cups and hand-embroidered throws.”
Reema Juffali
Driven by adventure and a love for the Red Sea
Known worldwide as the first Saudi woman to have entered and won an international motor race in 2019, Reema Juffali was also the first Saudi female to hold a racing licence. “I didn’t go into racing to make a statement. I went in to pursue my passion,” she says. This despite the fact she received her licence in 2017, the same year the driving ban on women was lifted. Born and raised in Jeddah, she attended college in Boston but chose to stay close to home, where she oversees her own racing team, Theeba Motorsport.
When she’s not on a racetrack, Juffali indulges her adventurous spirit by exploring the Ann Ann Wreck at Abu Faramish Reef. Located on what is known as the 26-Mile Reef, it is the largest wreck site near Jeddah and considered to be the most difficult dive in the region. The ship sank in 1977 and is badly damaged, particularly in the deeper waters, so the captain’s room and electric room are brimming with pristine marine life, now occupied by tuna, bluestripe snapper, blue-spotted stingrays, and the occasional whitetip sharks.
For shopping, Juffali recommends Homegrown Market, a local concept store highlighting local designers. It’s the perfect spot to hunt for treasures like Shuqer’s unisex Ghost fragrance and colourful abayas by Saudi designer Nasiba Hafiz.
“I love Saudi coffee,” Juffali states, and so for refuelling, she favours a specialty Saudi coffee at Bafarat Cafe, where you can also get the day going with a truffle omelette or buttery croissant. She calls home-cooked sayadieh, white fish and rice flavoured with cumin and fried onions, her “favourite lunch at home,” but for a meal out on the town, she books a table at Al Nakheel, a hotspot in Jeddah set on the cornice and overlooking the Red Sea. For an international fix, she loves Kuuru’s Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cuisines.
She recommends out-of-town visitors reserve a room at SHIRVAN, a boutique hotel that she says is perfectly located. Only a 15-minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Balad, the five-star property boasts an outdoor pool, a sauna, and à la carte (American or Asian breakfast options).
Related articles
