Haifa Al-Jedea: Strengthening Saudi–EU Relations on the World Stage

Saudi Arabia’s transformation under Vision 2030 is as much about new mindsets as it is about mega-projects. It’s about women and men stepping into global arenas. Among these changemakers is Haifa Al‑Jedea, Ambassador and Head of the Kingdom’s Mission to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). From Riyadh to Brussels, she is helping shape a future defined by regional stability, economic diversification, and international collaboration.

Early Life and Education

Raised with a global outlook, Haifa Al‑Jedea’s path was forged by a deep curiosity about the world and a drive to serve it. She pursued a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School, then a Master’s in International Relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. To sharpen her ability to navigate complex global disputes, she completed a Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University, equipping her with the tools to build consensus across borders.

Her early exposure to multilateral institutions, spanning internships and roles across the United Nations system, helped her develop a nuanced understanding of diplomacy, security, and policy reform. Those experiences would become the bedrock of her later leadership on the Saudi‑EU stage.

Leadership Role in European Affairs

Appointed in 2023, Al‑Jedea leads Saudi Arabia’s mission in Brussels at a pivotal moment in world affairs. As Ambassador and Head of Mission to the EU and Euratom, she represents the Kingdom across a broad spectrum of files: economic cooperation, energy and climate dialogue, investment flows, research collaboration, and strategic security consultations.

Under her leadership, the mission has focused on deepening ties between Riyadh and European institutions, accelerating channels for trade, innovation, and cultural exchange. In an era of shifting geopolitics and emerging technologies, Al‑Jedea’s portfolio speaks to the heart of Vision 2030: widening the Kingdom’s global partnerships while creating opportunities for Saudi talent and enterprise.

Climate Diplomacy

In 2022, world leaders convened in Sharm El‑Sheikh for COP27, with COP28 following in the UAE, a moment that pulled global attention toward MENA’s role in climate action. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish,” Al-Jedea’s Brussels agenda has underscored the importance of cooperation, aligning Saudi and EU priorities on energy transition, adaptation, and climate finance.

At the heart of regional collaboration is the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI). Launched by the Kingdom, MGI targets a collective reduction of 670 million tonnes of CO₂e, about 10% of global nationally determined contributions at launch, and a plan to plant 50 billion trees across the region, equivalent to restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land. In Sharm El‑Sheikh, Saudi Arabia announced $2.5 billion in support over 10 years to accelerate MGI projects, including programs that expand access to clean cooking and advance nature‑based solutions.

“The Middle East Green Initiative is spearheading regional multilateralism and serves as a catalyst for investment in climate action.”
— Haifa Al‑Jedea

The Middle East Green Initiative

MGI’s blended‑finance approach linking public, private, and multilateral capital creates a pipeline for green bonds, sustainability‑linked instruments, and job‑creating land‑restoration projects. For the EU‑Saudi relationship, that means pragmatic partnerships on methane abatement, grid interconnection, hydrogen standards, and research exchanges.

Before entering Brussels, Al‑Jedea helped cultivate evidence‑based dialogue as Managing Director of SRMG Think, overseeing Think Research & Advisory. Think’s analyses during COP27 highlighted that Gulf renewables are rapidly scaling, with utility‑scale solar and wind projects in the pipeline exceeding 13.6 GW and $9+ billion in value, a trajectory now unfolding across the region.

Championing Empowerment and Global Dialogue

Long before Brussels, Al‑Jedea championed empowerment at home. She has supported initiatives including MITHAAL, a platform that spotlights Saudi women role models and curates practical career resources for girls and young professionals. The message was clear: ambition deserves a runway—and Saudi women should have the tools to take off.

As Managing Director of SRMG Think, she helped push regional conversations to the global stage, co‑hosting MENA Forum 2022 with the Middle East Institute on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The gathering brought together policymakers, the private sector, and international organizations to foreground MENA priorities. She also spoke at Top CEO 2022, drawing on her experience in international negotiations and implementing projects with multi‑national stakeholders, underscoring her role as a bridge between policy, business, and society.

Institution-Building and Global Public Diplomacy

Her public‑service journey traversed multiple national priorities: from strategic roles in the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leading public diplomacy at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. At Tourism, she contributed to the establishment of the UNWTO Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, the first UNWTO regional office to be headquartered in Saudi Arabia, following Executive Council approval in September 2020 and culminating in an opening ceremony celebrated with international guests.

She later stepped into the private sector as Managing Director of SRMG Think, launching knowledge ventures that bridged research, publishing, and policy insight. Across these chapters, a consistent thread emerges expanding platforms where Saudi ideas and expertise can shine globally.

Scientific Innovation and National Impact

The ambassador’s mandate includes engagement with Euratom, the EU’s community for nuclear research and safety cooperation, an arena where science, policy, and long‑term development intersect. Dialogue in Brussels increasingly touches on clean energy transitions, hydrogen, grid interconnection, and advanced research partnerships. By representing the Kingdom at this nexus, Al‑Jedea helps open pathways for technology transfer, research collaboration, and standards alignment that support Saudi Arabia’s energy security and sustainability ambitions.

Beyond energy, her mission amplifies cooperation in the digital economy, culture, and education, creating exchange programs, policy roundtables, and platforms where Saudi innovators meet European counterparts. These bridges are more than symbolic; they seed the know‑how and networks that fuel Vision 2030’s diversification goals.

Recognition and Legacy

Al‑Jedea’s ascent reflects a wider national story, one in which Saudi women are leading at the highest levels of diplomacy and public life. Her recognition among regional rankings of impactful women in government underscores a growing truth: Saudi representation abroad is increasingly merit‑driven, future‑focused, and collaborative.

Yet her legacy will not be measured by titles alone. It will be seen in the quality of partnerships she builds, contracts signed, research programs launched, scholarships awarded, and investment dialogues that turn ideas into jobs. It will be reflected in the young women who look at her career and decide their ambitions are not only possible, but welcome.

Closing Thoughts

Haifa Al‑Jedea’s story mirrors Saudi Arabia’s own transformation: ambitious, outward‑looking, and committed to excellence. By leading the Kingdom’s mission to the EU and Euratom, she is helping turn Vision 2030 from a national roadmap into a global conversation, one where Saudi expertise, creativity, and values find common cause with partners across Europe. For the next generation of Saudis, especially young women, her journey is a powerful invitation: the world is open. Step forward and shape it.

Discover more inspiring stories at Saudi Wins, where Vision 2030 comes to life.