Deemah Al-Yahya is a Saudi tech diplomat and digital economy expert, renowned for her leadership in advancing digital transformation and inclusion. She currently serves as the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), an international body established in 2020 to promote inclusive growth of the digital economy. Appointed in 2021 as the DCO’s first Secretary-General, Al-Yahya made history as the first Saudi woman to lead the secretariat of an international organization. Throughout her career, she has been a trailblazer for women in technology, championing digital inclusion for women, youth, and entrepreneurs and working to ensure everyone has a fair opportunity in the digital economy.
Breaking Barriers: Early Life and Education
Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Deemah Al-Yahya pursued her passion for technology from a young age. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information systems from King Saud University in 2002. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning, she later attended executive education programs at prestigious institutions. Al-Yahya completed advanced programs at INSEAD business school in 2017, focusing on international corporate governance, digital transformation, and business development. She also underwent executive training at Harvard Business School, where she studied innovation leadership and enterprise strategy. This strong educational foundation in both technology and business equipped her with the skills to drive digital innovation in various sectors.
A Trailblazing Career in Technology
Al-Yahya began her career breaking new ground for women in Saudi Arabia’s tech sector. Her first role was as a software engineer at Samba Financial Group (Samba Bank), where she became one of the first women to work in the bank’s IT department. She then moved to the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), again emerging as a pioneer by being the first woman hired to work at the exchange’s IT department. These early positions established her reputation as a capable technologist and a barrier-breaker in traditionally male-dominated environments.
In 2010, Al-Yahya joined Microsoft Arabia, marking the start of a rapid rise within the company. By 2013, she was promoted to Executive Director of Developer Experience and Digital Innovation at Microsoft, becoming the first Saudi woman to assume a leadership role at Microsoft’s Saudi operations. In this capacity, she focused on expanding the developer ecosystem and empowering young tech talent, setting the stage for her future work in digital empowerment.
Leading Digital Transformation Initiatives
Building on her private-sector success, Deemah Al-Yahya took on influential roles across Saudi Arabia’s public and non-profit tech sectors. She was appointed Director of e-Services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was the first female manager overseeing the ministry’s IT department. Al-Yahya also served as Chief Innovation Officer (Executive Manager) at the MiSK Foundation’s Innovation arm, leading initiatives to foster an entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem for Saudi youth. In this role, she championed programs to develop digital skills nationwide – notably, she helped launch Saudi Codes, a coding education initiative that taught over 1 million Saudis (including many women and young people) the basics of programming.
Empowering Women and Entrepreneurs
Apart from her formal roles, Deemah Al-Yahya has founded initiatives to further drive innovation and inclusion. She is the founder and CEO of Women Spark, established in 2013 as the first Saudi women’s angel investment network, which supports female tech entrepreneurs. Through Women Spark, Al-Yahya provides training, mentorship, and investment opportunities to women in technology; the network has trained more than 26,000 women in the tech industry since its inception.
Leading the Digital Cooperation Organization
In late 2020, Deemah Al-Yahya was nominated to lead a new international initiative in the digital realm. By April 2021, she was formally elected as the first Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). The DCO is a multilateral organization founded by Saudi Arabia and several partner countries to accelerate digital transformation and build an inclusive global digital economy. As Secretary-General, Al-Yahya works closely with heads of state, government ministers, and industry leaders to promote collaboration in areas such as digital infrastructure, innovation, and talent development.
Celebrating a Legacy of Impact and Recognition
Deemah Al-Yahya’s impact in the field of technology and digital policy has been widely recognized. With nearly two decades of experience, she has helped build tech communities and digital ecosystems that have benefitted over 2.5 million people across the Middle East and beyond. Her efforts to include more women and youth in the technology sector have made her a role model for aspiring innovators.