Dr. Ahmed Jamil Kattan: Visionary Saudi Technocrat from the Nexus of Data and Policy Making

Dr. Ahmed Jamil Kattan is a key figure in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation, blending deep expertise in artificial intelligence with forward-thinking public policy. His career represents a unique intersection of pioneering research and impactful public service, shaping the future of governance and technological innovation in the Kingdom.

Academic Foundations and Early Career

Born in 1983, Dr. Kattan’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. His studies led him to the University of Essex, UK, where he earned an MSc in Software Engineering and a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Computations and Machine Learning. This strong foundation in AI became the cornerstone of a career that seamlessly integrates advanced research with practical application.

His early professional life included roles in programming and project management, as well as founding a successful data analytics company that was later acquired. He also contributed to academia as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on game theory and evolutionary computation.

Leadership and Policy Impact

Since 2015, Dr. Kattan has held several senior roles within the Saudi government. As Deputy Minister for Labour Policies, he revolutionized labour policy-making with an Agent-Based Model that simulated the Saudi labour market, enabling predictive assessments of policy impacts. Key policies implemented under his direction, such as freelancer licensing and remote working frameworks, transformed the labour market. The number of licensed freelancers, for example, surged from a few thousand to over 1.5 million between 2015 and 2023.

Building on his success in labour reform, Dr. Kattan applied his data-driven approach to municipal services as Deputy Minister for City Operators. A notable innovation was the “Darwinian competition” model for government procurement. This initiative dramatically increased the pool of qualified contractors from 2,500 to 17,000 between 2020 and 2022, fostering excellence. He also led the introduction of drone technology for automated inspections and spearheaded regulatory reforms for dormitory housing, a model praised by the World Bank.

In his current role as CEO of the Al Jouf Strategic Development Office, Dr. Kattan now applies his national-level expertise to drive a comprehensive regional transformation. He leads a programme of 113 projects across 39 government entities, focused on advancing the region across urban, economic, social, cultural, and environmental pillars.

Intellectual Contributions and Vision

Dr. Kattan’s expertise extends to board memberships with prominent authorities including MODON, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and the Public Health Authority. His scholarly work includes pioneering the Darwinian Policy Making model, described in his book Navigating the Decision Space, which uses principles of evolutionary computation to optimise decision-making.

His leadership is strengthened by a high-performing team and a supportive government environment, allowing for the swift translation of research into transformative policies that embody the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Conclusion

Dr. Ahmed Jamil Kattan’s career offers a compelling model for modern governance. His work demonstrates how technology-driven leadership can translate visionary goals into tangible public value, shaping a smarter, more adaptive future not just for Saudi Arabia, but for nations navigating similar transformations.