1. Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure
Saudi Arabia is targeting 150 million tourists by 2030, surpassing the previously set 100 million milestone ahead of time. Significant investments are being made in Giga-projects such as NEOM, Red Sea Global, and Diriyah Gate to boost leisure and hospitality. Executive roles in demand include PMO leaders, hospitality operations heads, digital guest experience managers, and CHROs with expertise in workforce nationalization and service culture transformation.
2. Digital Economy, AI, Data & Cloud
The Kingdom is one of the fastest-growing AI economies in the world, with AI adoption expected to contribute 12.4% (circa $135 billion) to GDP by 2030. The National Strategy for Data & AI (NSDAI) aims to make Saudi Arabia one of the top 15 AI-powered economies by 2030. Government and private sectors are investing heavily in AI and data centers. Google Cloud and Saudi ARAMCO have committed to a $10 billion partnership to set up cloud computing hubs in Saudi Arabia. AWS is building multiple hyperscale data centers in the Kingdom. Oracle is setting up its first cloud region in Jeddah. STC and Alibaba have committed to a $1 billion investment in multi-zone cloud centers. Critical talent gaps include Chief Data Officers, AI/ML product leaders, cybersecurity heads, and cloud commercialization executives.
3. Mining & Critical Minerals
Saudi Arabia’s mineral wealth is now estimated at over $2.5 trillion. The surge in value is driven by discoveries of rare earth elements, base metals, gold, phosphate, and titanium. In alignment with Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, the mining sector is projected to boost its contribution to the gross domestic product from $17 billion in 2024 to $75 billion by 2030. Key executive needs include ESG leaders, exploration geologists, downstream COOs, supply chain integrators, and JV structuring heads.
4. Green Energy & Hydrogen
The NEOM Green Hydrogen project ($8.4 billion) is a cornerstone of Saudi’s clean fuel ambitions. Solar, wind, and electrolyzer infrastructure is being scaled at unprecedented levels. Saudi Arabia aims to source at least 50% of its power from renewable energy and expand capacity to 130 gigawatts by the decade’s end. In July 2025 alone, Saudi energy firms signed clean energy deals worth $8.3 billion. Executives in demand include hydrogen EPC project leaders, energy traders, sustainability chiefs, and carbon credit strategists.
5. Logistics & Integrated Supply Chain
The Kingdom is establishing itself as a global logistics hub, with plans to increase its logistics zones from 22 to over 59 by 2030. Upcoming global events such as the Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup are expected to further accelerate the Kingdom’s logistics transformation. Senior roles in demand include multimodal logistics COOs, digital freight executives, customs compliance heads, and last-mile experts.
Executive Talent Themes
- Saudization & Leadership Development: We see a strong demand for HR and talent leaders aimed at driving the national workforce goals.
- ESG & Compliance: These roles are critical across mining, energy, and tourism. The need for professionals skilled in reporting and governance will remain key.
- Digital Transformation: From AI in tourism to automation in logistics, executive demand is expected to span across all sectors.
- Reconnecting With Saudi Talent Abroad: There is a conscious effort to attract western-educated Saudi professionals with global experience.
