Hilton Launches Women's Leadership Program in Saudi Arabia

Twenty-five women are about to change the face of leadership in Saudi Arabia's booming hospitality industry.

Hilton just launched Raeidat (meaning Pioneers), a specialized nine-month program designed to prepare women for senior leadership roles across the Kingdom. The inaugural group brings together talent from 10 Hilton hotels, each participant selected for their leadership potential and readiness to step into bigger roles.

The timing couldn't be better. Saudi Arabia is experiencing explosive growth in tourism, and Hilton is betting big on the Kingdom's future. The company currently operates 21 hotels with more than 80 in the pipeline, creating a need for over 20,000 jobs. More than half will go to Saudi nationals.

The program starts with five months of intensive learning combining virtual workshops, in-person training, and structured mentoring. Participants will build skills in leadership, financial literacy, operational excellence, and service culture through real-world assignments and business projects. The final four months focus on personalized coaching to prepare women for their next career move.

"Empowering women to lead is a cornerstone of Hilton's people strategy and aligns closely with the ambitions of Vision 2030," said Kamel Ajami, Hilton's Vice President of Operations for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. The initiative directly supports the Kingdom's goal of expanding women's workforce participation.

Hilton already employs nearly 2,500 team members in Saudi Arabia and ranks as one of the top five companies to work for in the country. The company partners with nearly 20 academic institutions including Bunyan Academy for Hospitality Training and several universities to build a strong pipeline of hospitality professionals.

The Ripple Effect

Over 300 Saudi youth have already engaged in Hilton programs and overseas placements, gaining international experience through initiatives like the EMEA Team Member Exchange Programme. These investments create pathways not just for individual careers but for an entire industry transformation.

As Saudi Arabia rapidly expands its tourism sector, programs like Raeidat ensure women have a seat at the leadership table. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 recognizes that economic growth requires tapping into the full potential of its workforce.

Twenty-five pioneers are just the beginning of a much bigger story.

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