Saudi next-gens discuss regional giving trends
Roundtable in Riyadh brought together women leaders
Sunday, 09 March 2025
A group of female next-gen leaders from Saudi Arabia took part in a roundtable in Riyadh to discuss how women are shaping philanthropy in the region. Among those attending were: Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Alfaisal, founder of Adhlal, CEO of Art of Heritage and board member of Al Nahda Foundation; Reem A Mallawi; Razan Alsaab; Basma Alzamil; Abeer Al-Othman; Muhrah Binkhuzaim; and Hanan Masalkhi.
On the agenda was a research report produced by the Zovighian Partnership (ZP), a Lebanon-based research and social investment platform, in partnership with the UAE’s Pearl Initiative.
Most of the surveyed philanthropists were from the Gulf, the Levant, and Egypt, with a handful based in North America and Europe. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon made up the bulk of the responses (27 percent, 24 percent, and 22 percent, respectively).
More than half interviewees came from entrepreneurship and business backgrounds and 50 had been involved in giving activities for eight or more years.
One significant finding from the study, which launched in 2024 in Dubai, was that female philanthropists are 2.5 times more likely than their male counterparts to invest in women and girls.
"The next generation in Saudi Arabia is taking on significant business and philanthropic responsibilities and must be set up for success,” said Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Alfaisal after the event in late February. “To achieve long-lasting impact requires access to high quality data and a community we can count on."
Basma Al Zamil, from Saudi Arabia’s Zamil Group added: “In Saudi Arabia, philanthropy is not just generosity — it’s a national value. The true strength of a nation lies in its people’s willingness to lift each other up. Saudi women are redefining philanthropy—not as charity, but as a legacy of empowerment, ensuring no one is left behind. They are leading this charge, turning compassion into action.”
Ashwin Iyer, senior manager Philanthropic Partnerships for Asia & Middle East at the Gates Foundation, said: "There is notable enthusiasm for strategic philanthropy amongst next-generation leaders in Saudi Arabia. There is a strong desire to connect, collaborate, and shape a thriving philanthropic ecosystem in the country with strategic intentionality."
