Daniah Orkoubi: A Saudi Entrepreneur and Technological Pioneer

One of the most important figures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s economy and technology, Daniah Orkoubi, has a strong record of accomplishments in the public and private spheres. She was the first Saudi woman to work as a technical staff member at the International Monetary Fund.

She subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Planning, where she helped create development plans and prepare national economic reports.

From the International Monetary Fund to the Ministry of Communications

In 2012, Orkoubi joined the International Monetary Fund as a Saudi executive director advisor. She later worked as a research analyst in the Middle East and Central Asia Department’s Strategy and Partnerships Unit.

She became the first Saudi woman to work for the IMF as a research analyst in the Middle East and Central Asia Department’s Strategy and Partnerships Unit. There, she collaborated with the team to create the department’s country strategy and write reports on nations undergoing economic change.

After that, in 2016, Orkoubi relocated to the Ministry of Economy and Planning, where she served in several capacities, most recently as Chief Economist.

Alongside the founding team of the National Centre for Strategic and Development Studies, she prepared the quarterly and annual economic reports that were submitted to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.

In 2020, Orkoubi became the Chief Economist at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). In keeping with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the growth and development strategy of the technology sector, she worked to establish the Technology Foresight Centre, which seeks to be a pioneer in the techno-economic direction.

Read more: Saudi Arabia’s Digital City: A Journey into the Knowledge Economy

Notable Achievements and Contributions

Orkoubi was instrumental in the creation of the MCIT’s Technology Foresight Centre, which supports the Kingdom’s digital transformation. She made a substantial contribution to the creation of national economic reports that were presented to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs while she was employed at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

She actively contributed to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy while she was employed at the MCIT. Likewise, she was a research analyst in the Middle East and Central Asia Department’s Strategy and Partnerships Unit, making her the first Saudi woman to work for the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Read more: Sheila Al-Ruwaili, who is the Saudi Businesswoman

A Prolific Career

As part of her extensive career, Orkoubi has been the Director-General of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Saudi Arabia since June 2024. During that same time, she also served as the senior director of the Middle East and North Africa Advisory Team at the same institute.

In addition, she was the Chief Economist and Director-General of the Ministry’s Technology Foresight Centre for three years (2020–2023) before joining the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as Deputy Minister for Technology and Digital Economy Foresight in May 2023–June 2024.

From 2017 to 2019, she served as the deputy minister for economic affairs’ advisor and was the chief economist and director-general of the economic reporting and modelling departments at the Ministry of Economy and Planning from 2018 to 2019.

Moreover, she worked as an economist at the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy from 2015 to 2016 and as a research analyst in the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia Department’s Strategy and Partnerships Unit on 2013. She was also a consultant to the fund’s managing director from 2012 to 2013.

Read more: Saudi’s Major Projects: Massive Investments!

Education and Experience

Orkoubi graduated from King Abdulaziz University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and the University of South Florida with a master’s degree. Due to her professional and academic background, she is one of Saudi Arabia’s most well-known economists.

Dania Orkoubi is a role model for Saudi women who aspire to succeed in various fields. Her accomplishments have helped to improve Saudi Arabia’s standing both domestically and globally.

Read more: Faisal Al-Ferdos is a Young Entrepreneur Leading Digital Transformation