Shihana Saleh Al-Azzaz

Shihana Saleh Al-Azzaz is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been an advisor at the Royal Court since 2024. She previously held the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers.

Shihana Al-Azzaz earned a bachelor’s degree in law with honors from Durham University in the United Kingdom. She trained at several international universities and institutes, including IMD in Switzerland, INSEAD in France, and Bocconi University in Italy. She obtained a law practice license from the New York Supreme Court in the United States and from the Ministry of Justice in Saudi Arabia.

Shihana Al-Azzaz has had a professional career since 2008, during which she provided legal consultations, managed commercial transactions and deals, litigated cases, and handled settlement and conciliation procedures with global law firms across multiple sectors. In 2017, Shihana Al-Azzaz joined the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and held several positions, including director of commercial transactions in the legal affairs department, general counsel, and secretary-general of the PIF board of directors. She was also a member of several executive committees within the fund and served as chairperson and board member of various PIF-affiliated companies and committees.

On July 3, 2022, a Royal Order appointed Shihana Al-Azzaz as deputy secretary-general of the Council of Ministers with an excellent grade. She held this position until May 15, 2024, when Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud issued an order appointing her as chairperson of the board of directors of SAIP.

Shihana Al-Azzaz has been recognized by local and international organizations and has received several awards, including the Women in Business Law Award from the International Finance Law Review. She was also selected by the World Economic Forum as one of the Young Global Leaders. Additionally, Finance Monthly named her a "Deal Maker," and Forbes Middle East ranked her among the One Hundred Most Powerful Businesswomen.