The women of Saudi are paving the way for women in the region, and HRH Princess Lamia Al Saud is one trailblazer doing just that. From her achievements with the UN to her philanthropic and gender equality work, she’s helping change perceptions whilst inspiring Middle Eastern women to achieve their goals. Here, GRAZIA tells you everything to know about the princess.
Who is HRH Princess Lamia Al Saud?
HRH Princess Lamia of Saudi Arabia is the daughter of Prince Majed bin Saud, son of King Saud bin Abdulaziz AlSaud. She graduated in 2001 with a BA in Public Relations and Marketing and a minor in Journalism from Misr International University in Cairo. HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majid Al Saud is a vocal advocate for gender equality and a true role model for Middle Eastern women. She’s also the Secretary-General for Alwaleed Philanthropies and a member of the board of trustees.
Dedication to Alwaleed Philanthropies
Alwaleed Philanthropies is a Saudi Arabian NGO. It has financed and started programmes in over 164 countries for more than 38 years, regardless of gender, race or religion The foundation works with many government agencies, educational institutions and charitable groups, and its goals are to fight poverty, empower women and youth and to build community aid in times of disaster, as well as to promote cross-cultural understanding through education. Alwaleed Philanthropies aims to create a more understanding, accepting and tolerant society by collaborating with its partners.
Before being named Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies in April 2016, HRH Princess Lamia was the foundation’s Executive Manager of Media and Communication. The foundation, managed by her, has made it possible for women in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of new opportunities, and these chances include hiring recent law graduates.
Publishing and art pursuits
With a minor in Journalism, her writing talents are a key part of her career. She founded the publishing house Sada Al Arab in 2003, with it releasing three magazines. In 2010, she established herself as an author with her book Children & Blood, which explored women’s rights and honour killings in the Middle East.
In September 2019, she opened an Islamic art department at the Louvre. The department exhibits 3,000 pieces that were collected from Spain and India via the Arabian peninsula, all dated between the 7th to the 19th centuries.
Achievements and leadership positions
In 2017, Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, Vice President of Laos, awarded her an honorary medal in appreciation of her humanitarian work in the nation. HRH Princess Lamia won the Achievement in Philanthropies Award at the 2017 Arab Women of the Year event in London the same year. Additionally, in Washington DC, Her Royal Highness received the first Philanthropic Leadership Award from the National Council for Human Rights Hope, “in recognition of HRH’s efforts to contribute to a more compassionate, tolerant, and accepting world.”
As the first Saudi woman to become a “Global Champion” for gender equality, the princess is also affiliated with UN Women. She received the “Woman Leader in Community Development Excellence Award” in 2018 from the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute, which recognises and honours female executives and leaders. She was also awarded the Baden Powell Fellowship pin in March 2018 in appreciation of her efforts for the World Scout Foundation’s global youth support. Not only that but she was made the UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador in 2020 with the responsibility of promoting “sustainable urbanisation.”
It’s safe to say that HRH Princess Lamia boasts a wide range of achievements and that she holds a vast number of leadership roles across global organisations. She’s a global champion for gender equality with UN Women, a member of the Generation Unlimited Champion Committee at UNICEF, and she was an Honorary Advisory Board member at the 8th Annual GCC GOV HR Summit 2020. She’s a regional goodwill ambassador for UN Habitat for Arab States.
