Saudi Red Sea Authority appoints Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello as CEO

The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has appointed Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 22, 2026, marking a leadership transition aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s coastal tourism governance.

The appointment signals a new phase in SRSA’s mandate to regulate and develop navigational and marine tourism activities across Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline while safeguarding marine ecosystems and enabling sustainable investment.

Dr. Ficociello brings more than two decades of leadership experience across governance, risk management, resilience and compliance in both public and private sector institutions. She most recently 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 matters.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Ficociello has contributed to several national sustainability initiatives, including supporting targets under the Saudi Green Initiative. She also served as a founding member and secretary of the Executive Committee overseeing the sustainability of the Red Sea and has represented the Kingdom at international forums such as the UN Climate Change Conference and the UN Ocean Conference.

The new CEO Ficociello said, “It is an honor 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.”

SRSA also expressed appreciation to outgoing CEO Mohammad Ali Al-Nasser for his leadership over the past four years, during which he helped establish the authority’s operating model and strengthen its regulatory and institutional capabilities.