Celebrating the pioneers of Saudi IT: Winners of the inaugural CIO50 KSA Awards

In a grand event held in Riyadh, the first edition of the CIO50 KSA Awards honored Saudi Arabia’s top technology leaders who have transformed the digital landscape amid unprecedented challenges. These forward-thinking executives have been instrumental in shaping the Kingdom’s future through groundbreaking innovations and resilience, earning their place among the region’s elite.

Collectively, the award-winning CIO50 Middle East leaders oversee more than 40,000 IT professionals across Saudi Arabia, with each organization represented by an average of 500 staff members. These leaders hold key positions across a spectrum of roles, including Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Data Officer (CDO). Beyond these technical titles, the honorees also play critical roles in business transformation and executive leadership. Their collective efforts underscore the critical importance of technology in both public and private sectors.

The awardees represent over 15 industries, from financial services and banking to telecommunications, healthcare, aviation, real estate, insurance, and government. This diversity reflects the broad range of sectors that are being reshaped by digital innovation, all while building first-to-market solutions capable of overcoming pandemic-driven disruptions and accelerating business growth.

The top 10 CIO50 KSA awardees:

• Wissam Al Adany, ADES Holding
• Muhammad Siddique, Al Ittefaq Steel Products Company
• Dr. Akram Nour, Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA)
• Asim Badhuralam Sanabel, Al Salam Food Manufacturing Company
• Syed Fakruddin Albeez, King Abdullah Economic City
• Ali Saif AlQahtani, Tanmiah Food Company
• Dr. Hamed Saleh D. Alqahtani, King Khalid University
• Dr. Faisal Al Nasser, Almarai
• Suleiman Khader, Alfaisaliah Group
• Faisal Parkar, Tim Hortons Middle East
• Waheed Yaqoub Khayyat, United Cooperative Assurance (UCA)
• Mohamad Abdul Wajid Tanveer, Balubaid Group Of Companies (BGC)
• Bandar Mohammed Al-Otaibi, Salehiya Healthcare
• Mohammed Al-Shobani, Saudi Arabian Cooperative Insurance Company (SAICO)
• Jayesh Maganlal, Roshn Group
• Eng. Mubarak Marie Alshahrani, King Saud University – Medical City
• Sultanah M Aljaser , Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
• Faisal Alzayat, ARDARA Development Company
• Eng. Sulaiman Abdullah Alkharashi, SME Bank
• Wael A Alfattani, General Authority for Competition
• Jason E. Roos, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
• Dr. Fahad Ibrahim Almoqhim, Saudi Accreditation Center
• Abdullah Albanyan, Arabian Shield Insurance Company
• Khaled Salah Salem, Saudi Fransi Leasing (JB)
• Yousef Al-Suhaibani, Mobily
• Ramez AlFayez, KAFD
• Abdullah Mohammed Al Omari, Aramco Rawan Offshore Drilling
• M Waseem Kaimkhani, Takween Group of Industries
• Abdulrhman Alkhanifer, King Saud University
• YAZEED ABDULLAH ALOTAIBI, Ministry Of Health
• Qasim Nadeem, ABANA Enterprises Group
• Eng. Khaled Harbah, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College (MBSC)
• Muhammad Bilal Khan, Shaker Group
• Ahmed Mohammed AlOmran, General Organization for Social Insurance
• Filip Nekvinda, ALJ Enterprises
• Ibrahim Hamed, Alkifah Holding
• Abdulbary Atassi, Zamil Industrial Investment Company
• Abdullah Rhwanjy Abdullah, Al-Othaim Markets
• Ali Bin Duhaym, KAFALAH
• Mahmood Ali Mohammed, Al-Othman Holding
• Fahad Ali Daghriri, TVTC
• Dr. Saleh Alharbi, Shaqra University
• Haitham Abdullah Alghamdi, National Research and Development Center For Sustainable Agriculture – Estidamah
• Dr. Ali Almalki, University of Bisha
• Abdulaziz A. Al-thomairi, Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery (SASREF)
• Raihan Aamir, Bahra Electric
• Amin M Aljaber, Nesma and Partners
• Eng. Majed Mohammad Ayoub Alshodari, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Majid Jan, Petromin Corporation
• Dr. Osama Abdulrahman Alswailem, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
• Magdi Alharbi, Ministry of Defence

These technology leaders have been recognized not just for their technical acumen but for their ability to lead their organizations through a period of massive change, bringing in innovations that will set their businesses up for the future. Their projects have driven digital transformation, improved efficiency, and strengthened business resilience, making them examples for the broader technology community in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

By showcasing the Kingdom’s top technology minds, the CIO50 KSA Awards cements its position as the premier awards program for technology leaders in the region. This initiative forms part of a wider global network of recognition for IT leadership, including CIO50 Middle East, CIO50 Australia, CIO50 New Zealand, CIO100 ASEAN, and CIO100 India, in addition to the highly respected CIO100 Awards held in the US and UK.

The winners of the inaugural CIO50 KSA Awards demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing its digital capabilities in line with Vision 2030. Their success is a testament to the critical role technology plays in driving economic growth and innovation across industries. As Saudi Arabia continues to emerge as a regional technology hub, the contributions of these leaders will remain pivotal in defining the future of IT not just locally, but globally.