Sumayah Al-Solaiman

Sumayah Al-Solaiman is an architect and was the inaugural CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission. She has extensive experience leading transformation across the architecture, design, and cultural sectors. She led national initiatives that advanced policy, talent development, research, and international engagement, helping position design as a driver of economic growth and cultural impact.

Throughout her career, she has championed architecture as a force for creating more sustainable, culturally rooted, and human-centered communities. She has represented Saudi Arabia at international events, including the Venice Architecture Biennale, and collaborated with leading experts from around the world to help shape the future of the built environment.

She holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Architecture, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT’s Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, and served in a number of academic leadership positions.

She has worked extensively at the intersection of government, education, innovation, and the creative economy. Her expertise has been sought on many of Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects, where she has contributed to design competitions and provided advisory services for masterplans, urban development, and architectural projects.