Get to know Saudi game-changer Reem Al Aboud as we discover her inspiring passion for her country.
On September 23rd of every year, Saudi Arabia celebrates its national day with a powerful sense of pride filling up streets across the country. The infectious, lively patriotism brings an eternally festive air, as crowds take to the streets to salute their great nation with celebratory parades honouring their homeland. In celebration of this special day, we’re getting to know Saudi game-changer Reem Al Aboud — known for challenging norms and inspiring the younger generation by breaking barriers in the world of sports. Join us in celebrating and take a look at her secrets to success.
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Reem Al Aboud A professional race car driver at only 20-years-old, Reem Al Aboud studies Human Resources at Jeddah’s University of Business and Technology and has already made history as the first female Saudi racer to participate in Formula E’s international racetracks. What does Saudi National Day mean to you? It’s a day of joy, honour and pride for my beloved country — it’s my comfort zone, the purest land, the dearest homeland for us all... a thousand words wouldn’t be enough to describe my love for and pride in my country. How do you celebrate? I spend this special day surrounded by friends and family. What’s your biggest source of inspiration? It’s my father, his passion for racing and competing in tournaments made me love the sport and learn more about it. Once women could drive in the KSA, I got the opportunity to participate in various types of local racing tournaments and received strong support from the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation.
"I would tell young women that, once you have ambition, commitment and dedication, there’s nothing that can stop you. These three words are the key to success in any field and for any passion. "
What’s your most treasured memory of your country? When I had the chance to race in my beloved country’s Formula E tournament, my dream had become a reality after years of hard work, dedication and tireless commitment. How did you realise you wanted to be a racecar driver, and what challenges did you face in your journey? My father ignited this passion in me for driving and racing. My training began with simple go-karting, later evolving into my 2018 participation in Jeddah’s karting competition for women, where I qualified for first place in the trials. I soon qualified for the Formula Gulf Academy for men in Bahrain, where I attended with my father — being the only Saudi woman in a group of 15 men from the region, I completed the race landing seventh place. This was followed by the Saudi Time Attack tournament, joining the second round at the Al Reem Circuit and the third round two weeks later. All of this was leading up to my nomination by Nissan to participate in the Formula E trials. How do you picture women’s successes in various industries within Saudi Arabia? Success for one is success for all, whether it’s a woman or a man. What’s great right now is that we’ve been receiving full, unwavering support from our country, and the women of Saudi Arabia have truly been able to prove themselves every day in any industry, increasing our social contributions of building the country through all our successes.
