#Saudi Arabia #Riyadh #Conservation #Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve #Female Sea Rangers

Introduction

In a groundbreaking move for environmental conservation, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has announced the launch of the first female sea ranger corps in the Middle East. This initiative, celebrated on International Ranger Day, marks a pivotal moment in the region’s commitment to marine protection and gender inclusion in ecological roles.

A Historic Milestone

The formation of this corps is part of a larger effort that includes a diverse team of 246 rangers, 34% of whom are women. These female sea rangers are tasked with patrolling the 170-kilometer Red Sea coastline, working alongside their male counterparts to safeguard marine ecosystems.

Ruqayyah Awadh AlBalawi, a ranger who joined the reserve as part of its inaugural group, shares a profound connection to this new chapter in her career: "I discovered an entirely new world underwater. I am proud to be among the first women learning to swim under the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. I dream of the day a woman serves as the captain of the Reserve's marine patrol boat." Her ambition reflects the transformative vision of female empowerment in roles traditionally dominated by men.

Gender Integration in Conservation

Andrew Zaloumis, the CEO of the reserve, emphasizes that integrating women into the workforce has been a priority aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The conservation industry has long struggled with gender imbalance, particularly in marine sectors. Since the establishment of the ranger corps in 2021, efforts to encourage female applications have led to women making up 34% of the ranger team, just shy of the Vision 2030 target of 35% for women in the workplace.

Training and Opportunities

The rangers perform a vital role in the mission to protect land and marine resources as part of the 'Rewild Arabia' initiative and the Saudi Green Initiative. Their responsibilities include ecological monitoring, species reintroduction assistance, wildlife population management, and environmental oversight of development projects. The training program offers unique career opportunities in the expanding conservation sector, a field with significant relevance to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, leading to an influx of more than 35,000 applications for ranger positions.

Since 2022, the reserve's rangers have conducted nearly 35,000 patrols, with female rangers undertaking the same tasks as their male counterparts while working in mixed teams across 24,500 square kilometers of land. The absence of female sea rangers prior to this initiative was primarily due to limited access to swimming education and marine career opportunities. In July 2024, a dedicated swimming and marine training program was initiated, led by Senior Regional Manager Dominique du Toit, a seasoned wildlife conservationist from South Africa.

Achievement and Growth

By July 2025, seven trained female rangers had joined the marine patrols in the reserve's 3,856 square kilometer marine area. "The training program highlights the commitment and discipline of these rangers in acquiring new skills. This represents a remarkable achievement, and they should take pride in overcoming this challenge," explains Dominique.

The marine area of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is pivotal, containing 1.8% of the Kingdom's territorial waters and home to 64% of its coral species and 22% of its fish species, along with populations of loggerhead and green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, dugongs, whale sharks, and critical mangrove ecosystems. The marine rangers will patrol using two specially designed boats to ensure the conservation and protection of this invaluable marine landscape.

Conclusion

The launch of the first female sea ranger corps marks an essential evolution in the approach to marine conservation in the Middle East. By empowering women and fostering gender inclusion in marine stewardship, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve sets a global example in the fight for ecological preservation, illustrating how the integration of diverse talents can significantly contribute to a sustainable future.