H.E. Deema Al-Yahya

Deemah AlYahya stands as one of the most influential figures in global digital transformation, serving as the founding Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) since April 2021. A Saudi tech diplomat and digital economy expert, she made history as the first Saudi woman to lead an international organization. Her unanimous reappointment in April 2025 for a second four-year term by the DCO's Member States—citing her "impeccable leadership"—underscores the transformative impact of her tenure. Under her stewardship, the DCO has expanded from 5 founding members to 16 nations spanning the globe, representing over $3.5 trillion in GDP and more than 800 million people. AlYahya's leadership extends beyond organizational growth; she has positioned the DCO as a critical voice in global digital governance, securing UN General Assembly Observer status in December 2022 and convening heads of state, ministers, regulators, and technology CEOs to co-design policies that unlock economic opportunity, empower youth and women, and align national digital strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals.AlYahya's career trajectory is marked by pioneering "firsts" and measurable impact across public and private sectors. Beginning as the first female IT professional at Samba Financial Group and Tadawul, she went on to modernize consular e-services as Director of E-Services at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009–2010). At Microsoft MEA (2010–2016), she became the first Saudi woman in regional leadership, launching innovation hubs across three continents and upskilling over 4 million developers, youth, and entrepreneurs. As founding CEO of the National Digital Transformation Unit (2016–2017), she coordinated digital strategy across eight ministries and spearheaded a nationwide initiative that trained more than 1.2 million Saudi youth across 190 cities in coding and computational thinking. Her work catalyzed the Kingdom's startup ecosystem, facilitating support for 120 tech startups by mobilizing 40 million Saudi Riyals in funding. Throughout her career, she has supported over 400 startups, mobilized more than $100 million in funding, and raised over $700 million in digital foreign direct investment with governments.A recognized global advocate for digital inclusion and infrastructure resilience, AlYahya serves as a Broadband Commissioner for Sustainable Development, a World Economic Forum Edison Alliance Champion for Digital Inclusion, and a member of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience. Her passion for empowering women and youth in technology is exemplified by her founding of WomenSpark in 2013, a non-profit initiative that has trained more than 26,000 women in tech and entrepreneurship and built a network of over 100 women investors. Under her direction at the DCO, she has launched flagship initiatives including the Digital Economy Navigator, the STRIDE Association (which raised $51 million to support over 300 startups), and the Startup Passport, while overseeing the publication of more than 10 white papers on critical topics such as cross-border data, digital taxation, and misinformation. Her thought leadership extends to over 20 op-eds and articles in outlets such as the World Economic Forum, helping mainstream inclusive digital-economy policies.AlYahya's influence is further reflected in her extensive board memberships and global recognition. She serves on the boards of the Saudi National Bank, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming & Drones (SAFCSP), the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), the National E-Commerce Council, and Richard Attias & Associates, bringing tech-forward expertise to finance, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and AI governance. Her accolades include Digital CEO of the Year (2018), the Agents of Change Award during the 2024 UN General Assembly, the Women in Tech Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), recognition by Pakistan's Prime Minister H.E. Shehbaz Sharif (2025), listing among Fast Company Middle East's 40+ Most Creative People in Business (2025), and the Tech Diplomacy Award at The Montgomery Summit (March 2026). Holding a B.Sc. in Computer Science & Information Systems from King Saud University and executive education from INSEAD and Harvard Business School, AlYahya routinely engages with heads of state and international leaders—including H.M. King Charles III, H.E. António Guterres, and technology CEOs—to advance digital cooperation and turn digital inclusion into measurable prosperity.