Magda Abu Ras

Born in Mecca, Abu Ras holds two Masters qualifications: the first in Microbiology from King Abdulaziz University; the second in Biotechnology and Environmental Microbiology from the University of Surrey.[1] She went on to be awarded a PhD in Environmental Biotechnology from Surrey in 2010 in the treatment of oil-contaminated soils.[2]

In 2006 she launched the “I Love the Earth” campaign in Jeddah, which involved raising awareness of street pollution and cleaning.[3] In 2009 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Saudi Environmental Society (SENS), of which she was a founding member.[4] She was also Director of the Arab Women’s Environmental Development Program.[5]

In 2012 she launched a national educational environmental awareness programme under the slogan Green Homeland, Green Flag.[6] She was also selected as a regional scientist for NASA.[4] She is outspoken on issues relating to recycling and pollution in the country.[7]

Launched in 2018, she is the founder of the National Program for Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Development, which is administered by SENS.[4] This programme is part of Saudi Vision 2030.[8] The same year she supervised an environmental campaign which focussed on discouraging plastic-use during Hajj, entitle Hajj without Plastic.[9]

Abu Ras is Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at King Abdulaziz University.[10]

• Arab Women Leaders Award for the Environment, awarded by the Arab-European Organization for the Environment in Switzerland (April 2012)[11]
• Business Award, awarded by Sayidaty Magazine (2017)[12]
• “Takreem” Award for Sustainable Environmental Development, awarded under the auspices of the Emir of the State of Kuwait (2018)[13]