The New Rules of Leadership in Saudi Arabia

I had the honor of meeting Dina Khanat, the Founder of Saraya Consultancy.

We talked about what's happening in Saudi Arabia, and how the concept of leadership is also evolving in this region. We both agree that new styles of leadership are emerging and they're ready to do it the right way.

While many view Saudi Arabia as a place to chase scale and visibility, she’s focused on building leaders and cultures that are sustainable, grounded and ready for a new future.

Within minutes, it was clear: She’s here to shift the way leadership is practiced in Saudi Arabia.

From Washington D.C. to Riyadh

Dina’s path crosses continents, sectors, and systems.

After years of working with global institutions across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the UAE, she turned her attention to what she believes is one of the most important leadership frontiers in the world: Saudi Arabia.

Why? Because this is a country in motion.

‍High-stakes, high-ambition, high-speed.

But with that momentum comes pressure—on leaders, teams, and the human systems behind the transformation.

“I knew the change would be massive. But the real opportunity,” she said, “was to help make it sustainable.”

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“BRILLIANCE DOESN’T SCALE IF THE SYSTEM BEHIND IT IS BURNING OUT.”
Saraya Consultancy partners with CEOs and leadership teams across sectors to help them navigate intense growth while staying clear, connected, and in control.

This isn’t about fixing what’s broken. Through executive coaching, immersive leadership retreats, and neuroscience informed programs like "Train Your Brain," Saraya equips leaders with the tools they need to regulate stress, manage pressure, and lead from a place of balance and resilience.
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“There’s so much brilliance here,” Dina told me. “But brilliance doesn’t scale if the system behind it is burning out.”

Her work supports both individual and organizational well-being helping clients reduce stress, build collaborative cultures rooted in global standards, and align leadership energy with long-term business goals.

Why Saudi Arabia, Why Now?

Dina chose to focus her energy where transformation is happening

“There’s a hunger here for growth, but also for depth. People want more than success. They want to be seen on a global scale,” she said. In a market where hiring is accelerating and expectations are rising, her work offers something rare: a space for reflection, clarity, and leadership that’s both strategic and human.

When leaders are regulated, aligned, and connected to purpose, everything else flows.

“Saudi isn’t just changing, it’s emerging. And with that comes a new kind of leadership.”
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That’s why her coaching often focuses on what isn’t always seen—mental clarity, emotional regulation, stress management, and sustainable energy.

WHAT IS THE REAL ROI OF WELL-BEING?
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She talks about alignment, energy, communication, and retention in the same sentence. Because for her, it’s all connected.

Organizations across the region are investing in infrastructure, innovation, and talent. But the most important asset is that leadership resilience has to be developed with intention.

ALIGNMENT WITH VISION 2030

We talked a lot about strategy, innovation, and transformation in Saudi.

Leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about having the capacity to hold the weight of change.

And this is a big reason why Saraya exists.

It gives leaders that capacity, so they can align with Vision2030, lead with purpose, and help create cultures that prioritize well-being, happiness, quality of life, and long-term impact.

And in a region moving this fast, that may be the most strategic investment of all.

Thank you Dina for your time and allowing MDRN to interview you.