Haifa Aljedea is an international relations professional who was born in Riyadh and raised in New York City. 

Throughout her career, her work has revolved around creating strategic and effective international cooperation, by leveraging the strengths and capabilities of global stakeholders.

In New York, she worked at the UN Counter-Terrorism Center, which focuses on international capacity building with the aim of addressing and preventing violent extremism and terrorism.

She also worked on political and security issues at the permanent mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN, where she represented the Kingdom in the Security Council and the General Assembly.

After 17 years in New York, Aljedea decided to return to Riyadh and contribute to initiatives under the Vision 2030 program.

In her current role as the head of countries’ affairs to the chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development, the General Entertainment Authority, and the Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company, she is leading efforts to create and streamline strategic international partnerships that aim to enhance the impact of their work and achieve sustainable results.

“Saudi Arabia has a vast and strategic role to play in the international arena; my goal is to enhance this role while enabling our national objectives,” she said.

Outside of work, Aljedea is interested in the empowerment of Saudi women professionally, and is developing Track II diplomacy initiatives through the creation of economic and cultural ties between the Kingdom and countries such as Sweden, Italy and the US.

She has a master’s degree in conflict resolution and negotiation from Columbia University, a master’s in international relations from Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University.