Ahmed Alhakbani: Driving Digital Transformation, Governance, and Innovation Across Saudi Arabia

From Digital Transformation to Enterprise Leadership

Ahmed Alhakbani has built a distinguished career at the intersection of technology, strategy, government transformation, and corporate governance. Today, as Co-Founder and CEO of Simplified Financial Solutions Company (SiFi), he is focused on his next challenge: building technology-driven solutions with meaningful business impact.

His leadership journey reflects a progression from technology and e-government initiatives into senior government, private-sector, and board-level responsibilities. Across these roles, he has consistently worked at the intersection of digital innovation, institutional transformation, and strategic decision-making.

Building SiFi and a New Generation of Financial Solutions

Since 2021, Alhakbani has served as Co-Founder and CEO of SiFi, based in Riyadh. His entrepreneurial role represents the latest chapter in a career shaped by technology, business intelligence, project management, and large-scale transformation.

His leadership experience extends well beyond entrepreneurship. He currently serves on the boards of organizations including alinma, Retal, Maaden, ACWA Power, Saudi Airlines, and the Communications and IT Commission, while also contributing to the Digital Government Authority Board Advisory Committee.

This breadth of board experience gives him a distinctive perspective on how technology, governance, regulation, and commercial strategy can work together to create long-term value.

A Career Built Around Transformation

Before establishing SiFi, Alhakbani held several influential roles across Saudi Arabia’s public and private sectors.

As Governor of Saudi Customs, he contributed to the organization’s strategic and institutional direction while serving on its board and chairing key committees, including privatization and engineering initiatives.

Earlier, as Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce & Investment, he was involved in national-level trade and economic initiatives. He also served as Secretary-General and Board Member of Saudi Exports, leading efforts to promote Saudi goods and services internationally.

His transformation experience began even earlier. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked as a Transformation Director on a major modernization program covering people, processes, technology, and governance, while also managing the transformation of the ministry’s IT and communications function across more than 120 locations.

Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Journey

Alhakbani’s early career included significant contributions to Saudi Arabia’s emerging e-government landscape.

As a Senior E-Business Analyst and Projects Manager with the Saudi National E-Government Program, he worked on the country’s first National E-Government Action Plan and managed several e-services pilot projects.

He also served as Project Manager for the first national e-government portal, Saudi.gov.sa, launched in January 2007.

His earlier experience with Microsoft and Cisco Systems further strengthened his technology and business-development foundation. At Cisco, his contribution to the Economic Cities Project earned him an Extraordinary Achievement Award from Chairman and CEO John Chambers.

Governance at Scale

One of the defining features of Alhakbani’s career is the breadth of his governance experience. His board and advisory responsibilities have included organizations spanning technology, energy, aviation, mining, logistics, financial services, telecommunications, ports, healthcare regulation, museums, and national institutions.

His experience includes leadership and committee responsibilities with organizations such as MAWANI, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saudi Exports, King Fahd Causeway Authority, flyadeal, GASCO, Edaa, and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

This extensive exposure has positioned him to understand organizations not only from an operational perspective, but also through the lens of boards, regulators, shareholders, public policy, and national priorities.

Technology, Strategy, and National Ambition

With an MBA from INSEAD and executive education from institutions including IMD Business School and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Alhakbani combines technological expertise with business and strategic leadership.

His professional profile reflects a broader transformation taking place across Saudi Arabia—where digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship, government modernization, and private-sector innovation are increasingly interconnected.

Through SiFi and his continued board responsibilities, Ahmed Alhakbani represents a generation of Saudi executives helping translate technology and transformation into institutional capability, commercial opportunity, and sustainable national impact.

CEO Network Recognition

CEO Network recognizes Ahmed Alhakbani for his distinguished contribution to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, technology leadership, strategic governance, and business innovation.

Through his entrepreneurial leadership at SiFi and his extensive experience across government, technology, financial services, infrastructure, and national institutions, Alhakbani exemplifies the forward-looking leadership shaping Saudi Arabia’s evolving business landscape.

CEO Network celebrates Ahmed Alhakbani as a strategic leader driving transformation, strengthening governance, and contributing to the Kingdom’s journey toward a more innovative and digitally enabled economy.