Saudi Arabia announced that Princess Reema bint Bandar al-Saud will become the next ambassador to the United States. This is for the first time that Saudi Arabia has appointed a woman to take on as envoy role for the Kingdom.
The appointment was made public on Saturday.
The princess spent most part of her childhood in Washington DC.
Her assuming office comes at a very critical time. There is enough international pressure on the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Kingdom after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Crown Prince denied any involvement in the death of Khashoggi. The United States isn’t convinced, Congress lawmakers have demanded for an investigation.
Princess Reema takes over the role of the crown prince’s younger brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who has been appointed as the country’s deputy defence minister.
The Princesses father Bandar bin Sultan al-Saud held the US ambassador post from 1983 until 2005. Because of this she spent most of her childhood in the States.
After returning to Saudi Arabia in 2005, she worked in both the private and public sector. She is seen as an advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, she encouraged women’s participation in sport and exercise while working for the General Sports Authority.