Haya Al-Mansi

A Saudi Arabian entrepreneur who pioneered gender-inclusive tourism and challenged cultural norms

Haya Al-Mansi (born 1987) is a Saudi Arabian business leader and advocate for women's rights. In 2010, she co-founded Aymanah Travel, the first Saudi tour operator designed for women travelers. At a time when Saudi women faced strict restrictions on travel and employment, Al-Mansi created a platform enabling women to book tours independently. Her company's success pressured the government to reform travel laws, leading to policies allowing women to obtain passports and travel without male consent. Al-Mansi also established the Women in Travel Initiative, training over 1,000 Saudi women in hospitality and entrepreneurship. In 2018, she launched Al Mansi Academy, offering digital courses in Arabic for women pursuing tech careers. Her TEDx talk 《Breaking Barriers in Saudi Arabia》 has been viewed over 2 million times. Al-Mansi’s work intersects business innovation and social reform, exemplifying how private-sector leadership can shift cultural paradigms. She was named one of Forbes Middle East's Top 50 Women in 2021.