Saudi Arabian women are increasingly making their mark in the tech industry, defying traditional gender roles and pushing boundaries in a traditionally male-dominated field. As the kingdom undergoes significant reforms under Vision 2030, there is a growing emphasis on empowering women and promoting their participation in diverse sectors, including technology.
Here are a few prominent Saudi women who are leading the charge in tech:
Safa Alrashed
Safa Alrashed serves as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Future Skills and Jobs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia.
In this role, she focuses on developing future skills and job opportunities within the kingdom’s evolving digital landscape.
She has also actively participated in discussions related to human capital development, and has been instrumental in shaping and implementing strategies aimed at enhancing the nation’s human capital, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
Fatmah Baothman
Dr. Fatmah Baothman is the CEO of Alothaim Investment AI and R&D Company and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Artificial Intelligence. A recognized national technology strategist and AI advisor, Dr. Fatmah specializes in AI business development and innovation. She has represented women at prominent events, most recently at the United Nations for Saudi NGOs. Additionally, she is part of the G20-S20 Task Force and the working group for the G20 Digital Agenda Presidency Transfer.
In 2003, Dr. Fatmah became the first woman in the Middle East to earn a doctorate in Modern Artificial Intelligence. She graduated from the University of Huddersfield’s School of Computing and Engineering, where she was honored on the Alumni Roll of Honor. Her achievements have earned her numerous international awards and local recognitions, and she has been listed among the AI experts of the GCC & Arab region by MIT Technology Review.
Dr. Fatmah has worked with Apple and Cisco to help them enter the Saudi market and was a key figure in founding the computer science department at the Saudi Engineering Committee for Women, which played a crucial role in establishing engineering colleges for women in the western region of Saudi Arabia. She also founded the IEEE Chapter for Women and serves as the board president of the AI Society. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles, supervised numerous students in AI and technology business projects, and contributed to the field with several AI publications and book translations.
Deemah Al Yahya
Deemah AlYahya is a trailblazing leader in digital innovation and transformation, with a career spanning over two decades dedicated to advancing digital inclusion and empowering marginalized communities. As the founding Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), she works tirelessly to promote global cooperation in digital transformation, ensuring that every person, business, and nation has the opportunity to thrive in the digital economy.
Her vision for a future of #DigitalProsperity4All is rooted in her belief that everyone has a unique spark that, when nurtured, can lead to transformative opportunities. This belief has guided her career, from fostering regional developer communities at Microsoft to championing women, youth, and tech entrepreneurs through her initiative, WomenSpark.
Deemah’s impact spans across multiple sectors. As a tech diplomat, she connects governments, businesses, and civil society to drive positive change in digital policy and innovation. At DCO, she leads a growing network of 16 member states in advancing digital inclusion, regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies, talent development, and upskilling initiatives. Her work is instrumental in creating an inclusive digital economy, with millions benefiting from the ecosystems she has built to distribute the benefits of digital transformation more equitably.
Her pioneering efforts have also led her to serve in leadership roles such as Chief Innovation Evangelist at Microsoft, where she empowered youth, women, and independent software vendors to transition from job seekers to job creators. As a public sector innovator, Deemah has contributed to the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s National Digital Transformation Unit and the MiSK Foundation’s Innovation wing.
Deemah holds a BA in Computer Science and Information Systems from King Saud University and has further honed her leadership skills through senior executive programs at Harvard Business School and INSEAD. She continues to be a catalyst for change, fostering opportunities for a brighter, more inclusive digital future for all.
Khulood Almani
Dr. Khulood Almani is the Founder and CEO of HKB Tech, a leading company specializing in AI-patented products and technology projects across various fields, including Generative AI, SportsTech, Conversational AI, and BioTech, among others. With over 15 years of experience in the digital transformation and AI systems space, she is a globally recognized leader in technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
As the United Nations Ambassador for Women Empowerment and Peace, Dr. Almani is committed to advocating for gender equality and empowering women in technology and leadership roles. She is the first Saudi to be appointed as a Senator of the G20-World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), where she represents Saudi Arabia, further solidifying her role as an influential figure in global business and technology policy.
Dr. Almani is deeply involved in various international organizations, serving as a Board Member of the World Smart Cities Economic Development Commission and the Global Science, Technology, and Innovation Committee under the G20. She is also the Country Chair of the G100-WEF (Women Economic Forum) for CEOs & Leadership, representing Saudi Arabia, and a board member of the Global Women Tech Leaders (GWTL). Her leadership extends to supporting digital entrepreneurs and startups through her role as the Founder of VTA, a UK-based virtual tech accelerator, and as an investor in Forward Angel Investment, where she provides financial and strategic support to innovators globally.
Throughout her remarkable career, Dr. Almani has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. She was ranked first among the top 32 thought leaders in AI, robotics, and data science by the Mobile World Congress in 2023. Additionally, she has received the Women in Tech Global Leadership Award in 2024 and the International Leadership Award in AI and Tech. Featured among the top 50 global women in tech, she has also earned the Global Technology Thought Leadership Medal and was named one of the top 50 Global Phenomenal Brand Ambassadors in 2023. Her contributions to the fields of technology, entrepreneurship, and AI continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations of digital innovators.
Maya Ayoub
Maya Ayoub is a distinguished professional with a diverse career spanning multiple sectors. She is recognized as the Founder and CEO of District Twelve, a company specializing in real estate development and consulting. Additionally, she serves as the Saudi Arabia Country Director for Women in Tech, an organization dedicated to empowering women in the technology industry.
Justine Braguy
Dr. Justine Braguy is a plant biologist and entrepreneur who has transitioned from academia to the tech industry. She earned her Ph.D. in plant science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2021.
After completing her doctoral studies, Dr. Braguy co-founded Thya Technology, an AI startup focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to advance plant science and agriculture. As CEO, she leads the company in developing innovative solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural practices and sustainability.
Braguy’s journey from plant science to AI entrepreneurship exemplifies her commitment to integrating scientific research with technological innovation to address global challenges in agriculture and sustainability.
Shahad Geoffrey
Shahad Geoffrey is a Saudi entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Taffi Inc., a fashion technology startup launched in 2021. Taffi is an AI-powered personal styling platform that connects consumers with stylists and fashion brands, aiming to simplify the shopping experience for women in the region.
Under her leadership, Taffi has been featured in various publications, including a case study by Harvard Business School, highlighting the company’s growth and strategic pivots within its first three years of operation.
Geoffrey’s work is contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by creating opportunities for women to become stylists and earn income through the gig economy, thereby fostering economic diversification and empowerment.
Daniya Boges
Daniya J. Boges is a computer scientist and entrepreneur specializing in 3D visualization, modeling, and virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) applications. She currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of IntraVides, a company based in Turin, Italy, that develops augmented reality solutions for the medical field.
Daniya’s research interests include scientific visualization, human-computer interaction, and computer graphics, with a particular focus on applying artificial intelligence in VR and AR applications. Daniya’s work exemplifies the integration of advanced technology in healthcare, contributing to the advancement of medical practices in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Derya Baran
Dr. Derya Baran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. She is also the Principal Investigator of OMEGALAB, a research group focused on organic and hybrid materials for energy applications.
Dr. Baran’s research focuses on solution-processable organic and hybrid soft materials for electronic devices. Her work aims to develop materials for printed, large-area, stretchable, and wearable electronics, including solar cells, smart windows, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), thermoelectrics, sensors, and bioelectronics. She is particularly interested in interface engineering for organic/hybrid solar cells, transparent solar cells for building-integrated photovoltaics, and stability/degradation studies for long-lifetime organic solar cells.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Baran is a successful entrepreneur. She co-founded ‘iyris,’ where she serves as the Chief Engineer, advancing materials for sustainable agriculture technologies in hot climates. Her entrepreneurial achievements have been widely recognized; she received the Boston Consultancy Group V60 Innovators Award in 2024 and was named one of the Top Three Women Entrepreneurs in Tech in the Middle East by Forbes in 2023.
Asrar Damdam
Asrar Damdam is a Saudi Arabian scientist and entrepreneur specializing in electrical and computer engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with her research focusing on the Internet of Food.
Asrar is the founder and CEO of Uvera Inc., a cleantech startup based in Silicon Valley. Uvera develops technology that extends the shelf life of fresh food by up to 97% without the use of chemicals, addressing the global challenge of food loss and waste.
In 2020, Asrar was awarded the L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science Middle East Young Talents” Award for building a reconfigurable silicon electronic platform for heart-assistive devices. She also received the KAUST Research Excellence Award in 2021 and was named to Forbes 30 under 30 Middle East list of innovators for 2021.
Asrar’s work exemplifies the integration of advanced engineering in the development of sustainable and efficient technologies, contributing significantly to the advancement of science and technology in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
