Female-Led Conservation Efforts





















The Middle East Establishes the First Female Sea Ranger Corps
Debra John — August 1, 2025Merging ecological stewardship with gender inclusion, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has announced the establishment of the Middle East’s first female sea ranger corps. Revealed on World Ranger Day, the initiative represents a major advancement in marine conservation and sustainable coastal protection.
The newly trained female sea rangers are part of the Reserve’s "246-member team, of which 34% are women." Alongside male counterparts and the Border Guard, they patrol the Reserve’s 170-kilometer Red Sea coastline, focusing on protecting sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests.
This initiative strengthens the Reserve’s environmental capacity by expanding surveillance coverage, improving community outreach, and promoting more inclusive conservation leadership. Among them, Ruqayyah Awadh AlBalawi, a ranger for three years, has become a qualified sea ranger and embodies the program’s success. Her vision of someday captaining a marine patrol boat symbolizes the growing role of women in safeguarding the natural environment for future generations.