Nabilah Rayed Idrees represents a promising model of national talent in the field of marine veterinary medicine, as she is considered the first Saudi female marine veterinarian working in this specialized field within the Kingdom.

Idrees graduated from King Faisal University in AlAhsa as part of the first cohort of veterinary medicine students in the Kingdom in 2024. Since the beginning of her academic journey, Idris has been keen to gain extensive field experience in the care of marine organisms through training with a number of specialized entities and centers, locally and internationally, including:

Zoological Society of London (ZSL), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Aquarium Abu Dhabi, in addition to a field experience on Roatán Island in the Caribbean Sea, as well as participation in a number of specialized online training courses. This diversity of experiences has contributed to equipping her with advanced scientific and practical skills to handle various health cases related to marine species.

Nabilah Rayed Idrees in NCW

My Role at NCW as the first Saudi Marine Veterinarian in the Kingdom involves:

Establishing rescue centers for marine animals

Planning and preparing the clinic and rescue vehicle

Sea turtle rehabilitation

Investigating causes of death in marine mammals and other marine creatures

Awareness education for school students and vet college students to introduce the new field to them and providing them with hands-on volunteering and educational opportunities

Main achievement in 2025:

Successful release of a sea turtle

In a landmark achievement that contributed towards the center's goals in protecting and developing wildlife and biodiversity, the center rescued a marine animal, rehabilitated it, and released it from the Jubail sanctuary
It was a Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and its international status is classified as Vulnerable. After being treated, rehabilitated, and cared for over a period of more than eight months, it was released back into the marine environment in the Arabian Gulf, with a satellite tracking device installed to monitor its route
The turtle suffered from Chronic Debilitation Syndrome, showing symptoms such as extreme weight-loss, severe dehydration, bacterial infections in the internal organs, and positive byouancy that prevented it from diving and feeding normally. By the end of the treatment period, all symptoms had recovered.