Historic Launch of the First Female Sea Ranger Corps in the Middle East

Pioneering Marine Conservation: The First Female Sea Ranger Corps in the Middle East

On World Ranger Day, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia made a groundbreaking announcement: the launch of the first female sea ranger corps in the Middle East. This historic initiative is part of an extensive effort to enhance marine conservation and promote gender inclusion within the ecological field.

The female sea rangers are integrated into a robust ranger team of 246 individuals, among which women represent an impressive 34%. Their primary responsibility is to patrol a 170-kilometer stretch of the Red Sea coastline, working closely with their male colleagues and the Border Guard to ensure the safeguarding of the coastal ecosystem.

Ruqayyah Awadh AlBalawi, one of the ranger pioneers, shares her empowering experience. "I have discovered a whole new world underwater. I'm proud to be part of the first group of women to learn how to swim at the Reserve," she stated. Her ambition is to one day captain the Reserve's marine patrol boat, underlining the transformational potential of this program.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Reserve, emphasized that women’s inclusion has been a priority since its establishment, stating, "The conservation sector globally suffers from gender imbalance, which is further pronounced in marine roles. Our goal was to motivate women to apply, and today, we are nearing the Vision 2030 target for women's representation in the workplace."

The progress toward inclusion is noteworthy; female rangers not only perform the same duties as their male counterparts but also play crucial roles in ecological monitoring, wildlife management, and environmental assessments. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to protect 30% of the Kingdom's land and marine areas by the same year.

To better prepare the female rangers, the Reserve launched a dedicated swimming and marine training program directed by Senior Regional Manager Dominique du Toit, an accomplished conservationist. The training ensures the female rangers are equipped with essential skills to effectively guard the marine environment. One year into the program, seven female sea rangers are actively engaging in marine patrols across the Reserve's extensive marine territory, covering around 3,856 square kilometers. This area is crucial for biodiversity, hosting a substantial array of coral and fish species, along with populations of endangered turtles and marine mammals such as the dugong and spinner dolphin.

Dominique commended the dedication of the female rangers, stating, "This training program has highlighted their perseverance in learning new and challenging skills. It is a remarkable accomplishment, and these women deserve to be proud of what they have achieved."

The component of the female sea ranger corps not only boosts gender equality efforts in conservation but also addresses the skilled labor demand within the industry, having received over 35,000 applications for ranger positions since its inception. This unprecedented enthusiasm points to a growing awareness and commitment to environmental stewardship in the Kingdom.

With almost 35,000 patrols conducted since 2022, these rangers are vital to the mission of restoring and preserving Arabian wildlife and habitats. Their work encompasses direct interventions as well as developing strategies to meet international conservation goals. As Saudi Arabia advances toward a more inclusive and sustainable future, the introduction of the first female sea ranger corps stands as a landmark achievement in both gender equality and environmental conservation in the region.