Laila Abdullah

Saudi Arabian tech innovator who created the first Arabic-language coding platform for women, breaking barriers in Middle Eastern STEM education

Laila Abdullah: Bridging the Digital Divide in Saudi Arabia

In a region where only 22% of tech professionals are women, Laila Abdullah shattered stereotypes in 2015 with the launch of Khaldy, an Arabic-language coding platform designed specifically for women. Growing up in a conservative Riyadh neighborhood, Laila faced constant societal barriers to her passion for technology, but her perseverance led to the creation of an educational tool now used by over 500,000 learners across the Middle East.

Early Challenges

As a computer science student at King Saud University, Laila noticed a lack of female role models in tech and the absence of accessible learning resources in Arabic. Her solution was to develop Khaldy, a gamified learning platform offering courses in Python, HTML/CSS, and AI. The platform's success was amplified by partnerships with organizations like Saudi Digital Government Authority, enabling integration with national education curricula.

Innovative Pedagogy

Khaldy's unique approach includes:

• "Code & Craft" modules combining coding with traditional crafts like calligraphy
• Virtual reality labs simulating tech workplace environments
• Community forums moderated by female mentors from global tech companies

These features have made Khaldy a leader in culturally relevant STEM education, with 70% of its users progressing to paid tech internships through the platform's job portal.

Breaking Barriers

Laila's work has been featured in World Economic Forum reports and earned her the 2020 "Arab Woman of Innovation" award. Her advocacy for women's inclusion in tech led to the creation of the "Digital Sisters Network", a mentorship program connecting 10,000+ Arab women globally. Laila's TEDx talk "Code Beyond Borders" has over 2 million views.

Future Horizons

Currently expanding Khaldy into VR-based coding bootcamps, Laila aims to train 1 million women in tech by 2025. Her vision includes creating a blockchain-based certification system recognized by global employers. Laila's story, detailed in the British Council case study "Tech Titans of the Gulf", represents a new era of gender equality in tech innovation.