Microsoft has appointed Ayman AlGhamdi as President of Microsoft Arabia, effective 5 July 2026. The company announced the appointment as it prepares to launch its Saudi Arabia cloud region and support the Kingdom’s AI and digital ambitions.
AlGhamdi has worked at Microsoft for 14 years. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Public Sector in Saudi Arabia. During that time, he worked with government entities and national institutions to support AI adoption, cloud services, and digital transformation.
Ayman AlGhamdi to lead Microsoft Arabia
As President, AlGhamdi will lead Microsoft Arabia’s work with customers, partners, and national institutions. He will also help expand trusted AI adoption, strengthen cloud and data capabilities, and support digital skills programmes.
In addition, Microsoft said he will continue building on the company’s long standing partnership with Saudi Arabia. His role also covers cybersecurity, productivity platforms, partner capability, and cloud services.
Naim Yazbeck, President of Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said Saudi Arabia is making rapid progress in AI adoption.
“Ayman’s appointment comes at a defining moment for Saudi Arabia’s AI journey. Across the Kingdom, we are seeing an extraordinary pace against a clear national vision, with government leaders, customers, and partners moving from ambition to execution. As Microsoft continues to live up to its role as Saudi Arabia’s trusted AI partner, Ayman’s deep public sector experience and understanding of the local market will be critical to helping organisations build trust, skills, and digital capability at scale.”
Public sector experience supports new role
During his time at Microsoft, AlGhamdi helped develop partnerships across Saudi Arabia’s public sector. He supported organisations as they adopted cloud and AI technologies. As a result, they improved services, increased operational efficiency, and strengthened digital capability.
Microsoft also said AlGhamdi contributed to work with national stakeholders. In addition, he supported the company’s cloud and AI roadmap in Saudi Arabia.
In a LinkedIn post, AlGhamdi said he was honoured to take on the role after working with customers, partners, government stakeholders, and colleagues across the Kingdom for many years. He also thanked customers, partners, colleagues, and Microsoft leaders for their trust and support.
Focus on AI and Vision 2030
AlGhamdi said Saudi Arabia is moving quickly in AI adoption. He added that government entities are already using AI to improve services, increase efficiency, and create value.
He said his priority is to stay close to customers, partners, and Microsoft teams. At the same time, he aims to help organisations benefit from Microsoft’s AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and skills ecosystem.
“As a proud Saudi, this appointment is deeply meaningful to me. I have seen firsthand how government entities in the Kingdom are setting the pace for AI adoption, not as a future concept, but as a practical tool to improve services, raise efficiency, and create value at scale. As Saudi Arabia marks 2026 as the Year of AI and continues advancing Vision 2030, my priority is to stay close to our customers, partners, and teams, and to make sure Microsoft brings the full strength of its ecosystem, from cloud and AI to security, data, and skills, to support the Kingdom’s next phase of digital growth.”
Microsoft expands its Saudi Arabia commitment
Microsoft has operated in Saudi Arabia for more than two decades. Today, it supports digital transformation across government, energy, aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and national projects.
The company also highlighted two recent milestones. These include its upcoming Saudi Arabia cloud region and its commitment to equip three million people with AI skills by 2030.
With AlGhamdi as President, Microsoft said it will continue working with customers, partners, and national institutions. It will also support trusted AI adoption, stronger cloud infrastructure, expanded digital skills, and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 priorities.
