Change Agents

Haifa Alhumaid has been fascinated by the beauty of shoes ever since she was a child growing up in Saudi Arabia. Today, global demand is growing for her high-end designs, including her environmentally responsible shoes made out of processed mushroom fiber.

Entrepreneur, startup mentor, and photographer Maha Shirah never takes no for an answer. The founder of SheWorks, Saudi Arabia’s first coworking space for women, Maha is helping female entrepreneurs seize new opportunities across the country’s fast-developing economy.

As the pace of change accelerates in Saudi Arabia, Hawazen Nazieh Nassief is helping to turn environmental and social responsibility into a priority for businesses across the country.


Nurturing a lifelong passion for space travel, rocket scientist Mishaal Ashemimry is helping to craft Saudi Arabia’s national space strategy. The inspiring aerospace pioneer plans to train as an astronaut and venture into space herself.

A passionate film industry pioneer, Faisal Baltyuor is one of the people leading Saudi Arabia’s movie business into a new era. Committed to developing and supporting local talent, the head of Muvi Studios says that a golden age is arriving for Saudi cinema.

Talal Al Zeid is one of the most prominent creators among the new wave of groundbreaking Saudi artists. Celebrated for his paintings on canvas, his street art, and his public installations, Talal’s sensitive and deeply felt artwork combines abstract and figurative traditions with the youthful and dynamic energy of graffiti.

One of the most charismatic personalities in Saudi Arabia’s fast-moving arts scene, Salwa Radwi is helping local artists discover the brave new world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Since Abdullah Al-Othman launched Geidea in 2008, the fast-growing fintech has helped provide Saudi banks and merchants with the technology they need to make digital payments a part of everyday life.

For parents around the world, it is a frightening and all-too-familiar experience when their child is crying and in obvious pain. But if this happens late at night, the doctor won’t see patients until the next day, after parents have spent many anxious hours waiting for a consultation that takes only 10 minutes to complete.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of all areas of the economy and all segments of society. Thanks to the creativity of entrepreneurs such as Ahmad Al Zaini new technologies and new thinking are transforming the country faster than anyone thought possible.