Sulafa Al-Hazza

Saudi Arabian social entrepreneur empowering women through tech education and entrepreneurship

Sulafa Al-Hazza (b. 1985) became a pivotal voice in Saudi Arabia's women's empowerment movement through her tech-focused initiatives. As founder of SAKHR Foundation in 2013, she created coding bootcamps and mentorship programs for women, addressing the Kingdom's 27% female workforce participation rate. Her #WomenInTech campaign gained viral traction, linking to UN Women's HeForShe platform. Al-Hazza's 2018 TED Talk 'How I Teach Saudi Women to Code' highlighted her methodology: teaching Python alongside entrepreneurship skills to create 150+ women-led tech startups. Partnering with Prince Alwaleed Philanthropies, she developed the first Arabic coding curriculum for girls' schools. Controversially, she launched Sahel, a women-only ride-sharing app, challenging Uber's dominance while respecting cultural norms. Her 2020 book Code Her Future became a bestseller in the Middle East. Al-Hazza's work intersects with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reforms, yet she emphasizes grassroots impact: 85% of SAKHR graduates secure tech jobs within 6 months. Recognized by Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 list, her initiatives now expand into AI ethics training for Gulf women.