Saudi National Day celebrations have taken to the skies this year, quite literally. Razan Al-Ajmi, Saudi Arabia’s first female skydiver, made the first-ever skydive over the Red Sea, dropping over Shura Island with the Saudi flag flying alongside her.
The jump was part of a special film released to mark Saudi National Day, created through a partnership between InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Red Sea Global.
A Jump Over the Red Sea
It’s quite the place to make a skydive. The footage captures Razan making her way through the sky above Shura Island, with the turquoise waters, scattered islands, and long stretches of white sand stretching out below her. Add the Saudi flag flying beside her, and the whole thing makes for quite a view.
The film brings together Razan’s love for adventure with the landscape of the Red Sea, turning her jump into a particularly memorable way to mark Saudi National Day.
Meet Razan Al-Ajmi
Razan’s connection to skydiving goes beyond one historic jump. She is the co-founder of the Saudi Skydive Agency, a platform connected to her wider mission of developing skydiving and adventure sports in the Kingdom.
She is also a judge for the Saudi Federation for Hiking and Climbing, helping contribute to the foundations of adventure sports in Saudi Arabia.
From Hiking and Climbing to Skydiving
Before skydiving entered the picture, Razan was already exploring the outdoors through hiking and climbing. These sports helped her build confidence in outdoor environments while introducing her to the discipline, movement, and challenges that come with adventure sports.
Eventually, that love for adventure took her from climbing rocks to jumping out of planes.
Becoming Saudi Arabia’s First Licensed Female Skydiver
In 2023, Razan became the first Saudi woman to obtain a skydiving license from the United States Parachute Association (USPA), marking a new moment for Saudi women in extreme sports.
Getting a skydiving license is a structured process, with the A license requiring 25 jumps and specific requirements attached to the training. Razan went on to build considerable experience, completing hundreds of jumps across different locations.
Taking Her Skills Around the World
After earning her license, Razan continued working on her flying skills, focusing on becoming more experienced and professional in the sport.
She trained internationally and joined camps in countries including Spain, Russia, France and China, while also competing in Gulf competitions in Bahrain and Dubai. That international experience gave her a closer look at established skydiving communities and what a developed adventure-sports ecosystem can look like. And now, she’s bringing that experience back to Saudi Arabia.
From hiking and climbing to becoming the Kingdom’s first licensed female skydiver and helping grow the local adventure-sports scene, Razan Al-Ajmi’s journey has always been about pushing further.
Her latest jump over the Red Sea adds another chapter to that journey, with the Saudi flag, Shura Island and one very impressive view along for the ride.
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