HEC Paris, Doha and the Alfaisal University Corporate Governance Center launch a strategic partnership to advance corporate governance and develop the next generation of leaders in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — September 1, 2026 — Alfaisal University and HEC Paris, Doha have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at advancing corporate governance excellence and developing senior leaders across Saudi Arabia.
The partnership brings together the Alfaisal University Corporate Governance Center (CGC) and HEC Paris, ranked #2 worldwide in Executive Education, creating a long-term platform that combines internationally recognized executive education with deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s evolving governance landscape.
Senior representatives from both institutions attended the signing ceremony in Riyadh, marking the beginning of a collaboration designed to support board members, senior executives, governance professionals, and emerging leaders across the Kingdom.
The partnership closely aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which places strong institutions, effective governance, leadership development, transparency, and globally competitive human capital at the heart of the Kingdom’s transformation. By bringing global expertise into direct engagement with the Saudi business environment, the initiative is expected to contribute to stronger boards, more effective leadership, and enhanced governance practices across sectors.
The Alfaisal University Corporate Governance Center has established itself as an important contributor to the development of corporate governance in Saudi Arabia through research, its annual assessment of governance practices among Saudi listed companies, and the Corporate Governance Excellence Awards, which recognize organizations demonstrating outstanding governance practices.
Through its partnership with HEC Paris, the Center is expanding this mission from assessing and recognizing governance excellence to actively developing the leaders who will shape it.
Under the agreement, three executive education programs focusing on corporate governance, board leadership, and related strategic governance competencies will be offered on a recurring basis, with programs expected to run every semester. Open enrollment will be announced shortly, with the first cohort planned for mid-December 2026 in Riyadh.
Over the coming years, the partnership is expected to provide executive education to hundreds of board members, executives, and governance leaders, creating a growing community of professionals equipped to contribute to governance excellence and institutional transformation in the Kingdom.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Necati Aydin, Director of the Alfaisal University Corporate Governance Center, described the agreement as a significant milestone:
“This is a historic partnership that brings together global excellence and local expertise. We are bringing the global best and the local best together to develop and train the next generation of leaders who will help shape the future of governance in Saudi Arabia.”
By combining HEC Paris’s global executive education expertise with the Corporate Governance Center’s knowledge of the Saudi governance environment, the partnership seeks to establish a sustainable platform for leadership development and contribute to a lasting ecosystem of governance excellence in the Kingdom.
For further information about the programs and upcoming enrollment opportunities, please contact the Alfaisal University Corporate Governance Center at cgc@alfaisal.edu.
