PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments

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Updated 21 May 2025
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PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments

PIF announced the appointment of Saad Alkroud as head of the local real estate investment division. Alkroud has served as chief of staff since 2021. This move follows the appointment of Aiman Al-Mudaifer as managing director and chief executive of NEOM. Maram Al-Johani has been named acting chief of staff, in addition to being appointed as secretary-general to the PIF board of directors.

In his new role, Alkroud will be responsible for developing PIF’s local real estate and infrastructure investment portfolio, which includes the giga-projects and several other strategic developments.

Alkroud joined PIF in 2016 as head of stakeholder management, overseeing PIF board and committees affairs and international relations, as well as managing relationships with Saudi entities to deliver strategic initiatives and objectives. In 2021, he was appointed as chief of staff, and in 2022, he took on additional responsibilities as secretary-general to the PIF board of directors. In that position, he supervised corporate strategy and business plans, PIF’s project management office, including the establishment of new companies, and the affairs of PIF’s portfolio companies, stakeholders and committees. He also serves on the boards of several PIF companies.

Meanwhile, Al-Mudaifer has led the local real estate investment division since 2018, helping to drive significant growth and transformation. As of 2023, the portfolio included more than 35 real estate companies, with investments in Saudi real estate and infrastructure continuing to deliver sustainable returns. The advancement of and investment in landmark developments and infrastructure projects have helped position PIF at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, including the creation of tourism and cultural destinations. Al-Mudaifer has served as the acting CEO of NEOM since November 2024 and is a board member of several PIF portfolio companies.

In her new role, Al-Johani will lead organization-wide strategic planning, data and committees governance, and the project management office. In addition, she will oversee portfolio company affairs and manage international and local stakeholders. Al-Johani joined PIF in 2017 after working for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She brings extensive experience to both roles, having served as PIF’s head of data and committees governance and advisory department since 2021.

These appointments reinforce PIF’s strong leadership foundation and support the delivery of its unique mandate and long-term strategy, within the organization and across its portfolio of more than 220 companies, to create opportunities for the global economy and drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia.


Dammam Airports partners with KaarTech to transform IT services

Updated 03 March 2026
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Dammam Airports partners with KaarTech to transform IT services

Dammam Airports, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, has partnered with KaarTech to deliver end-to-end IT managed services across its airport network in the Eastern Province.

This milestone advances Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and strengthens Dammam Airports’ commitment to delivering world-class travel experiences. The collaboration was inaugurated through an official signing ceremony attended by Mohammed Al-Hassany, CEO of Dammam Airports, and Shahinsha Abdul Basheer, CEO of KaarTech, signifying a shared commitment to shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s aviation through innovation and intelligent technology.

Recognized as one of the world’s largest airports by land area, Dammam Airports connects more than 12 million passengers each year and plays a vital role in strengthening the Kingdom’s aviation growth. With this partnership, the company is set to transform its IT landscape into a secure, scalable, and intelligent environment that supports the complexities of modern airport operations. 

KaarTech will manage the complete IT landscape across three airports, covering infrastructure, cloud, and network operations, along with 24/7 service management. This engagement also includes comprehensive application support beyond SAP, enriched with automation, proactive governance, and predictive intelligence. KaarTech will enable Dammam Airports to achieve resilience, efficiency, and long-term scalability through a comprehensive AI governance approach that embeds transparency, accountability, and innovation into every layer of IT operations, positioning the company as a trusted driver of aviation modernization.

This partnership aims to transform IT from a back-end function into an AI-enabled strategic driver of business performance and passenger experience. From ensuring business continuity and strengthening operational reliability to enabling connected, insight-driven airport services, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to data-driven, intelligent, and sustainable aviation.

Through this engagement, KaarTech reaffirms its position as a trusted partner in AI-led enterprise transformation, delivering deep expertise in managing complex technology ecosystems with intelligence and precision. For Dammam Airports, the partnership represents a decisive step in aligning operational excellence with the national vision for innovation, digital connectivity, and long-term growth.

Together, the two organizations will drive smarter airport operations and deliver sustainable value for the Kingdom’s growing aviation ecosystem.