You’ve probably seen the photos. The perfectly tailored power suits. The long, dark hair flowing without a hijab in rooms where that was once unthinkable. For a long time, Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel was the face of a "new" Saudi Arabia before the world even knew what that meant.
She wasn't just a royal accessory. Far from it.
Most people know her as the former wife of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the billionaire investor often called the "Warren Buffett of Arabia." But if you think her story ended when that marriage did, you're missing the most interesting parts. Honestly, her life is less of a fairy tale and more of a masterclass in soft power and calculated risks.
The Interview That Changed Everything
It sounds like a movie script. An 18-year-old girl from a middle-class background, raised by a divorced mother and her grandparents, lands a 10-minute interview with a senior prince for a school paper. That girl was Ameerah. The prince was Alwaleed.
That 10 minutes turned into two hours.
They married in 2008. Suddenly, this young woman from the Otaibah tribe was thrust into the global spotlight. But instead of retreating into the gilded cage of Riyadh royalty, she stepped up. She became the Vice Chairperson of Alwaleed Philanthropies.
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She didn't just sign checks. She traveled to over 70 countries. She was on the ground in Pakistan after the floods. She was in Burkina Faso opening orphanages. She was sitting across from Piers Morgan and Christiane Amanpour, speaking a brand of fluent, assertive English that shattered every stereotype Westerners had about Saudi women.
Princess Ameerah Saudi Arabia and the Fight for the Driver’s Seat
Long before the ban on women driving was officially lifted in 2018, Princess Ameerah Saudi Arabia was the loudest voice in the room demanding it. She didn't just want the right to drive; she wanted the right for women to exist as full citizens.
"I don't want to be that girl who's not doing anything," she once told an interviewer. "I want to make an impact."
It wasn't easy. Not even for a princess.
Her public profile caused massive friction within the royal family. Reports suggest that Prince Alwaleed’s own brother, Prince Khalid, warned him to rein her in. The pressure was relentless. In a society that prize's privacy and "modesty," her face on CNN was a provocation.
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By 2013, the marriage was over. They divorced amicably—they’re reportedly still friends—but it felt like the end of an era. People wondered if she would disappear.
Life After the Palace: Billionaires and Business
She didn't disappear. She leveled up.
In 2018, she made headlines again by marrying Emirati billionaire Khalifa bin Butti al-Muhairi. The wedding was a discreet, high-society affair at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte near Paris. Oprah Winfrey was there. Gayle King was there. It was the ultimate "who's who" of global influence.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Right after the wedding, rumors swirled that jewelry worth nearly a million dollars had been swiped from her suite at the Ritz Paris. No signs of a break-in. Just a clean heist. It was a bizarre, jarring moment of tabloid drama in a life usually defined by humanitarian work.
What is She Doing Now in 2026?
Today, Ameerah is a mother and a serious business player. She’s the founder and CEO of TimeAgency and co-founded Tasamy, which focuses on social entrepreneurship. She’s moved away from the "Princess" title in her daily work, focusing instead on being a bridge between the Arab world and the West.
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She’s basically the blueprint for the modern Saudi woman.
While the Kingdom has changed rapidly—women are driving, cinemas are open, the religious police have been sidelined—it’s important to remember she was saying these things when it was actually dangerous to say them.
Why Her Legacy Still Matters
- The "Evolution, Not Revolution" Strategy: She famously argued that for change to stick in the Middle East, it had to be gradual and respect the culture. She was right.
- Economic Empowerment: Her work with Silatech in Qatar has helped create thousands of jobs for youth across the Arab world.
- Representation: She proved that a woman can be deeply proud of her Saudi heritage while being a globalist.
If you're looking to understand the shifting tides of the Middle East, don't just look at the policy papers. Look at the people who pushed the door open before the law allowed it.
Next Steps for the Curious:
If you want to see her impact firsthand, look into the work of Tasamy. It’s one of the few organizations in the region that actually trains young people to turn social problems into profitable businesses. You can also track her recent speaking engagements through the World Economic Forum, where she remains a frequent contributor on youth employment and gender parity.