Nadia Al-Suleiman

A Saudi Arabian tech entrepreneur empowering women through digital platforms.

Nadia Al-Suleiman: Pioneering Women’s Empowerment in Saudi Arabia

Nadia Al-Suleiman, born in 1989, is the founder of WomenFirst, a Saudi-based tech platform connecting women to remote work opportunities. Launching in 2020 during the pandemic, her initiative has enabled over 150,000 Saudi women to enter the workforce, challenging traditional gender norms. By 2023, 30% of her clients were Fortune 500 companies seeking Middle Eastern talent.

Al-Suleiman’s 2021 partnership with UN Women expanded WomenFirst’s training programs to Yemen and Jordan. Her TEDx Riyadh talk "Breaking Barriers: Women in the Digital Economy" (2022) inspired global tech leaders like LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky to invest $2 million in her venture.

In 2023, she launched CodeDiva, a coding academy for Arab girls, with campuses in Jeddah and Dubai. Over 5,000 graduates now hold tech roles in AI and cybersecurity. Al-Suleiman’s advocacy for digital inclusion led to Saudi Arabia’s 2024 National Strategy for Women’s Economic Empowerment, which cites her work as a model.

Her 2025 memoir 《Code Breakers: A Saudi Woman’s Journey to Redefine Tech》 details her challenges and successes. Al-Suleiman’s vision—bridging gender gaps through technology—has positioned her as a global icon of modern Arab feminism.