Saudi Hosts First Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Middle East

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia marked a milestone moment this week by hosting the first-ever Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in the Middle East, bringing together global female leaders in business, government, investment, technology, and public policy. Held in Riyadh, the event showcased Saudi Arabia’s growing influence and the powerful role of women in shaping the Kingdom’s future.

The summit highlighted how Saudi women are redefining leadership across key sectors—from artificial intelligence and sustainability to finance and wellness.

Dr. Giovanna Carnevali, executive director of master planning at ROSHN Group, shared her journey of professional growth in Saudi Arabia. Speaking to Arab News, she reflected on the personal and professional transformation the Kingdom enabled:
“Living and working in the Kingdom has been a continuous journey of growth. I am truly grateful for what the country has offered me—and to women more broadly,” she said.

She noted the determination women often carry into their careers:
“As women, we often need to prove our capabilities more. But we bring unmatched passion and commitment. I always say, let your work speak for you.”

Vision 2030 emerged as a central theme of the summit. Lubna Olayan, chair of Saudi Awwal Bank, spoke about the incredible strides made in female workforce inclusion.
“When we started hiring women in 2001, we had just one woman in the company. Today, 36% of our workforce are women,” she said, calling for higher targets and leadership development.
“If the candidates are equal, I’ll choose the woman — because we’re still behind in leadership roles,” Olayan said, encouraging more decision-making opportunities for women.

The conversation then shifted to technology and AI, with Prof. Lilac Al-Safadi, CEO of IKONIC Educational Holding, spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s global ambition in artificial intelligence.
“The Kingdom has trained over 60,000 professionals in AI and launched the world’s first cognitive city — not just smart, but fully AI-integrated,” she stated, underlining the scale of investment in innovation.

Ellie Rubenstein, co-founder of Manna Tree, one of the first US food investors to enter the Saudi market, highlighted the shift in consumer behavior.
“Seven years ago, we were seen as a food security fund. Today, our focus is wellness — and women are driving that demand,” she said.
She stressed the importance of values:
“Women here want more than products. They want empowerment, sustainability, and wellness. They’re not just shaping homes — they’re shaping the future of the country.”

From banking boardrooms to AI labs, the summit made one thing clear: Saudi Arabia is embracing women as leaders of transformation. Through Vision 2030, investments in education, and a shift in values-driven markets, women are rising not just as contributors—but as central architects of the Kingdom’s progress.

The Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Riyadh marked a new era of global engagement and offered a bold message to the world — Saudi women are not waiting for change; they are leading it.