Laura Alho
{{Short description|Finnish blogger}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laura Alho
| birth_place = Finland
| nationality = Finnish
| occupation = Travel blogger
Writer
| employer = Royal Commission for Al-'Ula
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| father = Hannu Alho
| awards =
| website = {{URL|https://www.blueabaya.com/}}
}}
Laura Alho is a Finnish-origin, Riyadh-based travel blogger, writer and photographer.{{cite news |last1=Fayyaz |first1=Ali |title=A Finnish woman's mission to show the world Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage gems |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1289466/saudi-arabia |publisher=Arab News |date=April 22, 2018}} She is the founder of Blue Abaya, the first travel blog in Saudi Arabia, which she launched in 2010.{{cite news |title=Exactly Why is a Finnish Blogger Promoting Saudi Arabia? |url=https://www.albawaba.com/loop/exactly-why-finnish-blogger-promoting-saudi-arabia-1276554 |publisher=Al Bawaba |date=April 4, 2019}}
Her work as a writer and photographer has been published in various magazines and media outlets, including National Geographic, Saudi Gazette and Arab News.{{cite news |title=Founder Of Saudi Arabia's First Travel Blog Reveals 5 Hidden Gems In The Kingdom |url=https://www.villa88live.com/live/founder-of-saudi-arabias-first-travel-blog-reveals-5-hidden-gems-in-the-kingdom/ |work=Villa88live |date=January 20, 2020}} She is also the first European woman to have received her driving license in Saudi Arabia.{{cite news |last1=Toumi |first1=Habib |title=First European woman receives Saudi license |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/first-european-woman-receives-saudi-license-1.2233671 |publisher=Gulf News |date=June 8, 2018}}{{cite news |title=Key moments in the driving history of Saudi women |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1515186/saudi-arabia |publisher=Arab News |date=June 24, 2019}}
Early life and career
After completing her graduation, Laura started working as a nurse in her home country. She wanted to become a wildlife photographer as a child and study Egyptology but ended up in the medical field.{{cite news |title=10 Questions: Laura Alho |url=https://www.goodnewsfinland.com/10-questions/10-questions-laura-alho/ |work=Goodnewsfinland.com |date=August 16, 2018}} She moved to Saudi Arabia in 2008 on a short-term assignment. She started blogging as a hobby, but travel writing became a full-time job.{{cite news |last1=Raita-aho |first1=Sanna |title=Saudi-Arabiassa asuva suomalainen Laura odottaa innolla pääsyä ratin taa – "Täällä sääntöjen tiukkuuteen vaikuttaa se, kuka olet" |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9869220 |publisher=Yleisradio Oy |date=July 10, 2017 |language=Finnish}}
In 2010, she launched her website called Blue Abaya, when she witnessed a lack of channels informing people about tourism in Saudi Arabia. The name Blue Abaya came from the blue color of Finland's flag and Abaya, a full-length outer garment worn by women in Saudi Arabia. The website was started with the purpose of promoting Saudi tourism and heritage sites to audiences worldwide. The website garnered millions of views from across the world.
Her blog has won several blog awards, including Best Saudi Arabia Expat Blog 2012,{{cite web |title=ExpatsBlog.com Expat Blog Awards 2012: Saudi Arabia Gold Award |url=https://www.expatsblog.com/blogs/566/blue-abaya |website=Expatsblog.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127113358/https://www.expatsblog.com/blogs/566/blue-abaya |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |date=November 22, 2012}} Best Asian & Middle Eastern Weblog 2013 at The Weblog Awards (Bloggies).{{cite web |title=13th weblog awards |url=https://2013.bloggi.es/ |website=2013.bloggi.es}}
In 2014, Ahlo was a finalist in the Saudi Excellence in Tourism Awards (SETA) as the best website promoting tourism. In 2017, she was named one of the top 10 most influential expats residing in the Arab world who brought positive change.{{cite news |title=Our list of the top 10 expats living in the Arab world |url=https://stepfeed.com/our-list-of-the-top-10-expats-living-in-the-arab-world-3783 |work=Stepfeed.com |date=July 31, 2017}} In 2021, Laura was named 'Travel Media Influencer of the Year' at The Wanderlust Travel Awards by Wanderlust magazine.{{cite news |title=The Wanderlust Travel Awards 2021: The Results |url=https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/wanderlust-travel-awards-winners-results-2021/ |publisher=Wanderlust |date=2021}}
Laura Alho has written guidebooks and travel guides about Saudi Arabia and also has authored two books, Ultimate Guide to Edge of the World and Guide to Secret Lake in Riyadh. She works in the marketing department of the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula (RCU).{{cite news |title=AlUla Saudi Arabia with @BlueAbaya |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZx6-eFtfrQ |work=TravelMedia.ie |date=2021}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.blueabaya.com/about-us Official website]
- [https://kawa-news.com/en/laura-alho-blue-abaya-riyadh-is-changing-in-so-many-ways/ Laura Alho (Blue Abaya): “Riyadh is changing in so many ways”] (Kawa-news.com)
- [https://www.cntravellerme.com/destinations/international-womens-day-9-inspiring-women-on-their-defining-trips 9 inspiring female travellers on their most memorable trips] (Condé Nast Traveller)
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Category:Finnish women bloggers
Category:Finnish women writers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)