Saudi Arabia’s National Digitization Unit may only have been established this year, but the NDU and its head, Deemah Alyahya, are set to play a vital role in guiding the digital transformation of the Kingdom.

As Acting CEO for the NDU, Deemah Alyahya will lead the new authority, which has been created to oversee all ICT elements of Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Plan 2020 across all government entities, and to develop the Digital Saudi Strategy.

Ms Deemah Alyahya began her career as a software developer and engineer, and has worked in a number of high profile organisations in the government and private sector, taking roles at the forefront of digital efforts. She was responsible for the development of e-business for the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, and headed the Electronic Services Development department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

More recently, Ms Alyahya held several positions in Microsoft Arabia, where she led a number of important initiatives for the company in support of software development, technology ecosystems and the developer community, including Executive Director of Developer Experience and Digital Innovation. She has also championed the empowerment of Saudi women in technology, heading the launch of the Women Spark Initiative by Microsoft Arabia and Saudi Hollandi Bank, to promote the role and contribution of women to the IT industry.