Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Amri, president of Riyadh’s Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University

Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Amri
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Updated 28 June 2020
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Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Amri, president of Riyadh’s Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University

Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Amri has been the president of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh since March 2019.

He was recently appointed as pro-chancellor of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) by Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi. In a tweet thanking IIUI Chancellor Alvi on his appointment, Al-Amri said: “May Allah Almighty help me to serve this prestigious university.”

Al-Amri has held numerous positions at King Saud University (KSU), in Riyadh, including vice rector for graduate studies and scientific research, chairman of the public administration department, dean of faculty and staff, and dean of the business administration college. 

He began his academic career at KSU as a teaching assistant in its public administration department from 1985 to 1986, before becoming an assistant professor and then associate professor in the same department from 1993 to 1998 and 1998 to 2004, respectively, and professor of organizational behavior and human resources from 2004.

He was a part-time adviser at the Ministry of Higher Education from 2002 to 2005 and at King Fahd Medical City from 2004 to 2007 and has held a similar role at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs since 2006. He is also a member of KSU’s university council, the board of trustees of Dar Al Uloom University, and the board of trustees of the University of Business and Technology.

Al-Amri gained a bachelor’s degree in public administration from KSU in 1985, a master’s degree in public administration specializing in human resources and executive public administration from The State University of New York in 1989, and a Ph.D. in public administration specializing in human resources and organizational behavior from the same US institution in 1993.


Saudi wildlife center records rare sighting of critically endangered leatherback turtle in Red Sea

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Saudi wildlife center records rare sighting of critically endangered leatherback turtle in Red Sea

  • NCW says the leatherback traveled thousands of kilometers to reach the Red Sea
  • The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, some 6,500 km distant

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has documented a rare sighting of a leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea, marking a significant biological record for one of the planet's most critically endangered marine species.

The sighting occurred approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Al-Qunfudhah within the Blue Holes Protected Area, a newly established marine reserve, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The NCW confirmed that the presence of a leatherback in these waters is an exceptional event. Recognized as the largest turtle species on Earth, the leatherback can weigh up to 900 kilograms. It is easily identified by its unique leathery, black carapace—distinguished by five longitudinal ridges rather than a hard bony shell—and its ability to dive to depths exceeding 1,000 meters.

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Noting the species' migratory nature, the center explained that leatherbacks travel thousands of kilometers foraging for jellyfish. The specimen likely navigated through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of food. 

This is considered a remarkable journey, the NCW said, noting that the nearest known populations reside in the Indian Ocean, spanning waters from South Africa to Sri Lanka (roughly 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers away). The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, approximately 6,500 kilometers distant. No nesting activity has been recorded in the Red Sea.

According to the IUCN Red List, the leatherback is Critically Endangered in the Indian Ocean. While data for the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf is scarce, recent isolated sightings include a juvenile recorded in Jordan in December 2025 and another off Djibouti in 2019.

The NCW emphasized that these rare appearances highlight the ecological importance of the Kingdom's marine conservation efforts in the Red Sea. The center pointed to the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, along with the new Blue Holes and Ras Hatiba reserves, as critical sanctuaries that could support the potential expansion of such endangered species' ranges.