Cloud, Certification, and Beyond: Ahmed Al-Faifi’s Impact on Saudi IT

Ahmed Al-Faifi is at the helm of this technological storm brewing in the Middle East, revolutionizing how businesses and governments are powered by technology after more than two decades in the IT industry and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Under Senior Vice President and Managing Director of SAP Middle East North, the leadership has catalyzed groundbreaking advancements that have made SAP the key player in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s digital vision.

What was to become a very bright, amazing, and inspiring career is of the caliber of Ahmed Al-Faifi. This engineer began his career from scratch, working for the defense and aviation ministry in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, after gaining ample experience, moved into IT services. In 2012, Al-Faifi made history as he joined one of the giants of global technology-the behemoth SAP. Following appointment as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Middle East North in 2016, he has transformed regional SAP operations into unprecedented success.

During the tenure of Al-Faifi, SAP announced a four-year, $76 million investment plan in Saudi Arabia with a renewed commitment towards economic and technological development within the kingdom. The company has aligned its investment towards the Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious strategy of diversified economy and modernizing infrastructure for the country. The new investments help SAP to enable business communities to adopt advanced technologies, which will eventually ensure sustainable growth.

One of the key achievements of Al-Faifi was the launch of the first live public cloud data center by an enterprise application solutions provider in Saudi Arabia. This is a significant milestone that reflects SAP’s position as a pioneer in the cloud computing landscape of the region. It has enabled local businesses to tap into secure, scalable, and cost-efficient cloud solutions, thereby making the data center a corner stone of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.

The other feather under Al-Faifi was when SAP became the first enterprise application provider to gain Level 3 certification by Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). This level of recognition for SAP from CITC, the data security, and operational excellence is truly great and is one more way that has further consolidated SAP’s leadership as a trusted partner for the government and private sector institutions.

Al-Faifi’s vision goes beyond technological advancements. He is deeply committed to fostering innovation and building a vibrant tech ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. SAP’s cutting-edge solutions, ranging from enterprise resource planning (ERP) to artificial intelligence and analytics, are empowering organizations to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

Ahmed Al-Faifi has positioned SAP as the key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, in which the kingdom is diversifying its economy away from oil and toward a knowledge-based economy. Equipping businesses with state-of-the-art digital tools and solutions, SAP is thus playing a pivotal role in driving economic diversification and creating a more sustainable future for Saudi Arabia. Under Al-Faifi, SAP is also investing in human capital by nurturing local talent and fostering a culture of innovation. Training programs, partnerships with academic institutions, and collaborations with government agencies are helping build a skilled workforce that can drive the region’s digital transformation.

Ahmed Al-Faifi has left a lasting impact on the Middle East region’s IT landscape through his leadership at SAP Middle East North. Spearheading investments that are groundbreaking and championing innovation and sustainability, he has positioned SAP as the driving force behind the digital evolution of the Middle East. With unwavering commitment to excellence and a clear vision for the future, Al-Faifi continues to lead the way in shaping a smarter, more connected, and more prosperous Middle East.