In a strategic leadership appointment, Maryam Ali Ficociello has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA), effective March 22, 2026. The appointment positions Ficociello at the forefront of regulating and guiding Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding marine tourism sector along the Red Sea coastline, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.
The SRSA, tasked with overseeing navigational safety, tourism regulation, and environmental stewardship along the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, emphasized that Ficociello brings over 20 years of governance, risk management, and institutional leadership experience across public and private sector entities. Most recently, she served as Group Chief Governance Officer at Red Sea Global, where she led the Governance, Risk, and Compliance Division, and advised on sustainability and ESG frameworks for large-scale coastal development projects.
Leading Regulatory Oversight and Environmental Protection
Under Ficociello’s leadership, SRSA will strengthen regulatory oversight of marine tourism activities, including licensing, safety standards, and environmental compliance for tourism operators along the Red Sea. The role is integral to balancing the Kingdom’s tourism development goals with the preservation of fragile marine ecosystems that make the region a global ecological treasure.
SRSA highlighted Ficociello’s contributions to national sustainability initiatives, including her role as founding member and secretary of the Executive Committee for the Oversight of the Sustainability of the Red Sea, which ensures that economic development aligns with ecological preservation. She has also contributed to broader initiatives under the Saudi Green Initiative, supporting climate and conservation objectives.
Global Experience and International Representation
Ficociello has represented Saudi Arabia at multiple international forums, including the UN Climate Change Conference and the UN Ocean Conference, and led the Saudi Ocean 20 delegation to the G20, underscoring her expertise in global maritime governance and sustainable tourism practices. Her appointment is seen as reinforcing SRSA’s ambition to position the Red Sea coast as a world-class, environmentally responsible tourism destination.
Transition from Outgoing Leadership
SRSA also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing CEO Mohammad Ali Al-Nasser, who steered the authority for the past four years. During his tenure, SRSA developed its operational structure, regulatory framework, and coordination mechanisms with national partners to support the Kingdom’s emerging coastal tourism sector.
In her first statement as CEO, Ficociello said:
“It is an honour to join the Saudi Red Sea Authority at this pivotal stage in its journey. SRSA has a critical role in enabling a world-class coastal tourism sector that is safe, well-governed, and investment-ready, while protecting the Red Sea’s unique marine ecosystems. I look forward to working with stakeholders across government and industry to strengthen regulatory excellence, embed sustainability and resilience across the sector, and advance the Kingdom’s ambitions for responsible coastal tourism and the Blue Economy.”
Her appointment is expected to accelerate SRSA’s mission to combine tourism growth, investment facilitation, and environmental stewardship, supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification and sustainable development agenda.
