Cisco Saudi Arabia has appointed Bader Almadi as Vice President, placing him in charge of the company’s strategy and commercial operations in the Kingdom. The appointment, effective April 6, 2026, positions Almadi as the senior executive responsible for advancing Cisco’s work across Saudi Arabia’s priority sectors.
Almadi’s Role and Mandate
Based in Riyadh, Almadi will lead efforts to build partnerships that support AI infrastructure development across key industries, including financial services, sports, entertainment, hospitality, and energy. His mandate includes drawing on Cisco’s partner network to ensure organizations have the technology and capabilities needed to compete in a rapidly changing market.
Over Two Decades of Technology Leadership
Almadi brings more than 20 years of experience in technology and sales leadership. Most recently, he served as Managing Director for Google Cloud Saudi Arabia, where he led digital transformation plans across finance, healthcare, entertainment, and telecom. His tenure there included the launch of Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia in 2023 and the rollout of Google Pay in 2025. Before that, he held senior positions at Dell Technologies, Oracle, and EMC.
Notably, Almadi began his career with Cisco in 2006, making this appointment a return to the company where he started. Beyond his corporate roles, he has served as an advisor to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on international partnerships, represented Saudi Arabia at the G20 Summit’s Digital Economy Taskforce, and led initiatives at the World Economic Forum.
What Executives Said
“The Middle East is a vibrant hub of innovation and digital progress, and its momentum has been further accelerated by Saudi Arabia’s strategic focus on digitization. Bader brings a wealth of leadership experience, a deep connection to the Saudi technology ecosystem, and a strong record of driving impactful digital initiatives that will be vital to steer our next phase of growth in the country.”
Gordon Thomson, President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Cisco
“I am honored to join Cisco at such a pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia. Cisco has been fundamental in building the digital infrastructure that helps power Saudi Arabia’s progress. As the Kingdom advances towards Vision 2030, our technological leadership, talent and partner ecosystem position us well to empower Saudi Arabia’s digital economy and AI leadership.”
Bader Almadi, Vice President, Cisco Saudi Arabia
Cisco Saudi Arabia’s Commitments Under Vision 2030
Cisco has operated in Saudi Arabia for nearly three decades. The company’s current strategy in the Kingdom includes investing in AI infrastructure, highlighted by a 1 GW joint venture with AMD and HUMAIN. Cisco is also supporting local manufacturing capabilities and has trained more than 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia through its Networking Academy program.
Additionally, Cisco runs its Country Digital Acceleration program to support national-scale projects across critical industries. The company has also established local data centers to provide secure cloud services within the Kingdom, as part of its focus on connecting and securing Saudi Arabia’s digital future.
