Who’s Who: Lama Al-Shethry, board member of the Saudi Journalists Association

Lama Al-Shethry
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Updated 06 February 2024
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Who’s Who: Lama Al-Shethry, board member of the Saudi Journalists Association

Lama Al-Shethry was elected to the board of directors of the Saudi Journalists Association on Jan. 28.

The association, established in 2003, is a licensed civil society body and serves as an umbrella entity for the nation’s media professionals.

Al-Shethry has been the editor-in-chief of Sayidaty and Al-Jamila magazines since 2020. She was also the editor-in-chief of Directions KSA magazine for one year. Additionally, she has served as a digital content manager at Hia Magazine and a contributing editor at Arab News.

During her tenure as the editor-in-chief of Sayidaty, a new milestone was achieved with the publication’s website earning a spot on Forbes’ list of the top five most-visited websites in the Middle East and North Africa for 2021, with 68 million unique browsers.

In October 2023, under the patronage of Princess Sara bint Mashhour, the wife of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sayidaty partnered with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, or Darah, to launch a book titled “Traditional Saudi Costume: The Central Region” by Dr. Laila Al-Bassam. A special event was held at Al-Murabba Palace in Riyadh to celebrate the occasion.

Al-Shethry is an energetic and resourceful editor with over 10 years of experience overseeing editorial work for a diverse range of digital platforms and print publications, with a focus on women and lifestyle issues.

She manages various aspects of editorial production, including the creation of Search Engine Optimization-friendly digital content, creative print features, original videos, and the implementation of awareness campaigns through social media.

Al-Shethry is well-versed in various aspects of editorial and commercial project management, from planning and budgeting to scheduling and final execution.

From 2008 to 2012, she worked at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh as the supervisor for activities at the student affairs office.

She is also the co-founder of Bintnet Network, the first Arabic online magazine providing female-centered lifestyle content, along with forums for women.

Bintnet Network has expanded to include a website that features content about luxury living and travel for Arab readers.

Al-Shethry received a master’s degree in marketing communications from Middlesex University, Dubai, in 2013, and a bachelor’s degree in English translation from King Saud University, Riyadh, in 2002.

 


Saudi Arabia targets 50 wildlife breeding programs within 5 years

Updated 12 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia targets 50 wildlife breeding programs within 5 years

  • Strategy follows surging interest in protecting prized native species

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s top wildlife protection body has launched a plan to operate 50 breeding programs by 2030 and improve environmental balance, its CEO has said.

Mohammed Ali Qurban, head of the National Center for Wildlife, said the number of programs has already surged from seven to 21 in recent years, amid renewed interest in the protection of valued native species.

The breeding programs are based on precise scientific principles, starting with the selection of suitable species at research centers, followed by veterinary care and specialized nutrition programs, he added.

At the final stage, protected species are rehabilitated for release and monitored using the latest tracking and data analysis technologies.

The relocation of more than 10,000 animals in Saudi Arabia is “an important step in restoring ecosystems and enhancing environmental balance in the Kingdom,” Qurban said.

Veterinary scientists at work at the National Center for Wildlife's laboratory. (Supplied)

“Releasing wildlife into the wild contributes to forming new populations capable of self-reproduction; these releases support the genetic diversity of wild populations and enhance their ability to resist disease and adapt to environmental changes,” he added.

Releases have so far included more than 80 priority species, most notably reem antelopes, Arabian oryx, idmi gazelles, mountain ibex, houbara bustards, ostriches and sandgrouses. The animals were released within their historical and ecological ranges.

Qurban said that the plans take into account the carrying capacity of natural habitats and the importance of safe ecological corridors that connect protected areas to facilitate species movement and population sustainability.

Release sites are spread across more than 60 diverse environmental locations, including natural reserves, royal reserves and national parks, as well as strategic sites within the Kingdom’s giga-projects, ensuring the dispersal of animals across their targeted geographical ranges.

The efforts are part of a national integrated framework to support the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, Vision 2030 and the National Environment Strategy, aiming to achieve thriving and sustainable wildlife and ecosystems, Qurban said.