MMXXVI · The Liquid Edition

ALSIDDIQ

M. Abdullah

Strategic program & portfolio leader — seventeen years across banking, financial services, and IT governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Demand & Delivery Manager · EMKAN · PMO Authority
12K+
LinkedIn Followers
17+
Years Experience
MSc
Artificial Intelligence
PhD
Candidate · MBA
Alsiddiq M. Abdullah
❦ Royal Decree
Descend
12K+
LinkedIn Followers
17+
Years in Technology
3
Scientific Publications
50+
Projects Delivered
Where I've delivered
EMKANAl Rajhi BankTanfeethEtesal
A Note On Practice

An AI-Minded Project Leader

A strategic Program & Portfolio leader specializing in Islamic digital-transformation programs — turning PMOs from reporting units into enterprise value engines.

I lead large-scale transformation by implementing governance-driven execution systems, aligning business strategy with technology platforms, and building operating models that convert vision into scalable, measurable results.

My focus is not project delivery as an activity, but transformation delivery as a system — where strategy becomes structure, structure becomes execution, and execution becomes enterprise impact.

Education & Credentials
i.
PhD — Data Science & Artificial IntelligenceCandidate · Islamic University of Minnesota · 2026–2028
ii.
MSc — Artificial IntelligenceMidocean University · 2025
iii.
MBA — Business AdministrationHorizons University · 2025
iv.
BSc — Computer Science & ITSikkim Manipal University · 2003–2006
Certifications
PMI PMO Certified Professional (PMI-PMOCP)™Scrum Master (Cert Prep)Agile Project Management with Jira CloudLeveraging Generative AI for Project ManagementMindfulness for Project Managers
Alsiddiq M. Abdullah

Effective technology leadership combines strategic vision with precise execution.

— Alsiddiq M. Abdullah
The Disciplines

Mastery, refracted

AI Strategy

Designing enterprise AI systems to automate processes, enhance decision-making, and build sustainable competitive advantage.

Project Management & PMO

Leading PMO offices and applying Agile and PMP methodologies for efficient, high-quality project delivery.

IT Governance

COBIT & ITIL frameworks, portfolio management, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity.

Digital Banking

Leading digital banking initiatives and transforming traditional operations into intelligent, scalable platforms.

Data Science & Analytics

Machine learning models and financial fraud detection systems with documented field research experience.

Operational Transformation

End-to-end process redesign and efficiency improvement through business automation and modern technologies — from diagnosis through execution and measurement.

Selected Mandates

Impact, delivered

4 yrs

Demand-to-Delivery Engine · EMKAN

Own intake, qualification, prioritization, and delivery for the IT portfolio — turning demand into governed, measurable delivery.

~35%

IT CAPEX Cut · Al Rajhi

Insourced 129 IT staff from 17 outsourcers into Al Rajhi Services — cutting IT CAPEX spend ~35% — alongside core-banking & digital delivery (incl. the DigiCore program).

1,500+

Talent Programs at Scale · Tanfeeth

25+ hiring programs and 1,500+ local & overseas hires delivered, with full contractual governance and audit readiness.

The Record

Publications & Research

01

Fraud Detection in Loan Applications Using Machine Learning: An Applied Study in the Saudi Financial Market

Applied Study · AI in Financial Services

An applied study presenting machine-learning models for proactive fraud detection in loan applications within the Saudi financial market.

02

An Explainable AI-Based Framework for Controlling Digital Transformation Project Implementation in FinTech & Early Deviation Prediction

PhD Dissertation · Data Science & AI

Doctoral research building an Explainable AI (XAI) framework to govern FinTech transformation delivery and predict project deviations early.

03

Strategic Transformation & Sustainable Growth in Saudi FinTech — Case Study: Emkan Finance

MBA Graduation Project · Strategic Review

A holistic strategic review of a Saudi FinTech under transformation — integrating strategy (PESTEL/SWOT/Porter), leadership & culture, HR, marketing and financial analysis into a 12–24 month sustainable-growth roadmap.

Studies & Research

Applied research & case studies

Finance for Strategic Managers

Strategic Financial Analysis — Samsung

Applied Study

Strategic Marketing — STP & 7Ps

Applied Study

Strategic Human Resource Management

Applied Study

Managing Continuous Organizational Improvement

Applied Research

Research for Strategic Development

Applied Studies

Strategic Planning & Organizational Behaviour

The Journey

A Career in Delivery

Demand & Delivery Manager
EMKAN · إمكان
2022 — Present

Own the full IT demand lifecycle — intake, qualification, prioritization, and delivery execution — aligned to business strategy and portfolio priorities, under governance, risk, and cybersecurity controls.

Senior Projects Manager — IT Solutions
Al Rajhi Bank · مصرف الراجحي
2018 — 2022

Led end-to-end delivery of core banking and digital application projects; built a stakeholder engagement & management framework that improved alignment, decision speed, and risk visibility.

Senior Project Manager
Tanfeeth
2014 — 2018

Managed 25+ hiring programs and coordinated 1,500+ local & overseas hires; oversaw billing and contractual governance with Al Rajhi Bank and third parties with full audit readiness.

Project Manager
Etesal
2008 — 2013

End-to-end project delivery: planning, scheduling, contract administration, change management, and executive reporting across multiple engagements.

Recognition

Honors & awards

Executive Project — HR System Implementation
EMKAN Finance Recognition
Employee of the Month — May 2025
EMKAN · IT Division Award
Knowledge Ambassador — Appreciation Certificate
MidOcean University Honor
Recommendations

In their words

Albandry Asery Chief HR Officer Senior to Alsiddiq · Oracle HR implementation · Jul 2026
I had the pleasure of working with Alsiddiq during the Oracle HR System implementation project. He demonstrated exceptional project management skills, ensuring the project was delivered successfully within a very challenging timeline. His ability to coordinate stakeholders, manage risks, and keep the team focused was instrumental in the successful implementation — I highly recommend Alsiddiq to any organization looking for an experienced and reliable program and project manager.
Mohamed Marwen Yousfi Mohamed Marwen Yousfi Data Analytics · Governance · FinTech Same team at EMKAN · Jul 2026
It has been a pleasure working with you at Emkan as part of the IT team. You have consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality results — coordinating effectively with stakeholders, managing priorities, and maintaining a collaborative approach. Beyond your technical and project management capabilities, you are a dependable and supportive colleague — I highly recommend you to any organization looking for a skilled, reliable, and results-oriented professional.
Ahmed Almutawa Ahmed Almutawa Digital, Business & Operations Excellence · MBA · PMP Worked with Alsiddiq at EMKAN · Jul 2026
I highly recommend Alsiddiq for any leadership or management role. Having worked with him at Emkan, I have witnessed his exceptional professionalism and deep commitment. With over 12 years of experience across the Al Rajhi Bank group, he navigates complex business environments with ease. Beyond his technical expertise, Alsiddiq is a person of high integrity — his reliability makes him an invaluable asset, and he consistently goes above and beyond to support his colleagues. He would be a significant addition to any team.
Salam Hassan Salam Hassan IT Audit & Innovation Manager Managed Alsiddiq directly · Mar 2026
Alsiddiq truly embodies the definition of "getting the project done." Although I have worked with over 500 professionals throughout my career, I highly recommend him for any position requiring an organized project manager with a strong sense of ownership. He never stops learning new technologies and pursuing advanced degrees.
Mohamed Abdelsatar Mohamed Abdelsatar IT & ERP Services Expert · PMP® · MBA Master’s thesis partner · Feb 2026
Alsiddiq is one of the most dedicated, intelligent, and collaborative professionals I have worked with. We partnered closely on our master’s thesis on AI-Driven Fraud Detection, and his contribution was nothing short of exceptional. He is consistent, disciplined, and always fully invested — no shortcuts, no compromises.
Imran Abro Imran Abro Technical Project Delivery · PMP® · PMO-CP® Worked together at EMKAN · Feb 2025
An honest, trustworthy, and highly motivated professional. He is an expert in his field and in project management practices, consistently going the extra mile to solve issues and deliver critical projects under pressure — and always learning, especially inclined towards AI.
Abubaker Osman Abubaker Osman Senior DevOps Engineer · Cloud (OCI) Same team · Feb 2025
One of the most skilled and results-driven Senior IT Project Managers I’ve encountered. He has an exceptional ability to bridge business and technology, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with high quality. A strategic, detail-oriented, and visionary leader.
Abdulaziz Bin Khalid Abdulaziz Bin Khalid Project Management · PMO · PMP® Colleagues at Al Rajhi Bank · Apr 2025
Al-Siddiq was always respectful and professional in his dealings with everyone. My working days with him were filled with cooperation and understanding, and he consistently demonstrated high commitment and quality performance. I highly recommend him for any job opportunity.
Al-Sahafi · الصحفي

Articles & Insights

Full Articles
إدارة المشاريع

إدارة المحافظ في مكتب إدارة المشاريع (PMO): نهج استراتيجي للنجاح

تُعد إدارة المحافظ أحد الركائز الأساسية لنجاح مؤسسات الأعمال في عصر التحول الرقمي. يوضح هذا المقال دور مكتب إدارة المشاريع (PMO) في توحيد وتوجيه المحافظ لتحقيق الأهداف الاستراتيجية. يُستند التحليل إلى إحصاءات وتقارير دولية موثوقة.

Jun 24, 2026
البيانات والتحليل

البيانات الضخمة: محرك التحول الرقمي في الاقتصاد الحديث

تستعرض المقالة مفهوم البيانات الضخمة وأهميتها في الاقتصاد الرقمي، وتوضح تطبيقاتها العملية وتحدياتها. كما تقدم إصاءات حديثة تدعم دورها في رفع كفاءة الأعمال. أخيراً، تُبرز فرص الاستفادة منها في ظل التحولات التقنية العالمية.

Jun 24, 2026
الاقتصاد والاستراتيجية

رؤية 2030: استراتيجية التحول الاقتصادي في السعودية

تستعرض المقالة مسار رؤية 2030 في تحويل الاقتصاد السعودي من الاعتماد على النفط إلى اقتصاد متنوع رقمياً. يوضح التحليل مؤشرات النمو المتقعة، وإصلاحات السوق، وتحديات التنفيذ. كما يربط بين الاستراتيجية العالمية والبيانات الواقعية.

Jun 24, 2026
عام

كيف تختار موضوع رسالة الدكتوراه بفعالية

يستعرض المقال عوامل اختيار موضوع رسالة الدكتوراة، من تقييم الاهتمامات إلى تحليل الفجوات البحثية، مع خطوات عملية وإحصاءات تدعم القرار.

Jun 24, 2026
الذكاء الاصطناعي

الذكاء الاصطناعي التوليدي: محرك الابتكار في الاقتصاد الرقمي

يستعرض المقال مفهوم الذكاء الاصطناعي التوليدي، مسار تطوره، وتأثيره المتنامي على الصناعات. يسلط الضوء على إحصاءات سوقية حقيقية ويطرح أبرز التحديات الأخلاقية والتنظيمية. يختتم بتوقعات مستقبلية تستند إلى تقارير موثوقة.

Jun 23, 2026
البيانات والتحليل

تحليلات الأعمال: ركيزة اتخاذ القرار في العصر الرقمي

تحليلات الأعمال أصبحت عنصرًا أساسيًا للمنظمات لتوجيه استراتيجياتها. تعتمد الشركات على أدوات وتقنيات تحليلية لاستخرا قيمة من البيانات المتزايدة. يوضح المقال أهم الاتجاهات، الفوائد، والتحديات المرتبطة بهذا المجال.

Jun 23, 2026
LinkedIn Posts
Jul 3, 2026

Most financial institutions still cling to outdated methods for detecting fraud, a strategy that is fundamentally flawed. The distinction lies not in the sophistication of the model itself, but rather in the governance structure surrounding it - specifically, who assumes responsibility when the model inevitably fails. Having overseen IT demand-to-delivery at a Saudi fintech, the critical role of interpretable AI in preventing financial fraud has been starkly evident. The real question for financial leaders is: are you merely utilizing AI as a tool to bolster your existing fraud prevention measures, or are you integrating it as a comprehensive system to revolutionize your approach to fraud detection?

#FinancialFraudPrevention#AIinFinance#InterpretableAI#FintechInnovation#SaudiArabia#رؤية2030
View on LinkedIn ↗
Jul 3, 2026

معظم مشاريع التحول الرقمي لا تفشل بسبب العوائق التقنية، بل بسبب عدم وجود إطار مسؤولية واضح، حيث يبقى السؤال المهم بدون جواب: من يتحمل المسؤولية حين يفشل النموذج؟ الحوكمة في هذا السياق لا تعتبر عبئاً تنظيمياً، بل هي العامل الحاسم الذي يحدد نجاح أو فشل مشروع التحول. الفرق ليس في استخدام التكنولوجيا، الفرق في كيفية دمجها في عمليات الأعمال. سؤال مباشر لأقراني: هل نعتبر الذكاء الاصطناعي أداة لتحقيق أهدافنا أم منظومة شاملة لتغيير طريقة عملنا؟

#قيادة_التحول#الذكاء_الاصطناعي#حوكمة_التقنية#الريادة#التحول_الرقمي#رؤية2030
View on LinkedIn ↗
Jun 23, 2026

The prevailing issue with anti-fraud AI models in banks is not rooted in technical deficiencies, but rather in the lack of clear accountability when these models produce erroneous results. Effective governance is often misconstrued as a regulatory impediment, when in reality, it is the crucial factor that distinguishes a model destined for production from one that remains in the conceptual phase, never to see the light of day. A well-defined governance structure ensures that the deployment of AI models is not only technically sound but also legally and ethically robust, thereby mitigating potential risks and repercussions.

#ArtificialIntelligence#AntiFraud#BankingSecurity#AIRegulation#FinancialTechnology#RiskManagement
View on LinkedIn ↗
Jun 23, 2026

The push for transparency in AI decision-making has reached a critical juncture. For instance, in high-stakes applications such as healthcare and finance, the need for explainable AI is not just a desirable trait, but a necessity. Consider the case of a machine learning model denying a loan application - the applicant has a right to know the reasoning behind that decision. By prioritizing explainability, we can ensure that AI systems are not only effective but also fair and accountable.

#ExplainableAI#AItransparency#AccountableAI#TrustworthyAI#AIethics#AIgovernance
View on LinkedIn ↗
Jun 8, 2026

حوكمة التقنية تعتبر العمود الفقري لمشاريع التحول الرقمي، حيث بدونها قد تتراجع هذه المشاريع إلى الوراء وتفقد أهدافها. من هنا، يأتي دور القيادات في تأكيد أهمية حوكمة التقنية لضمان نجاح هذه المشاريع وتحقيق الأهداف المنشودة

#حوكمة_التقنية#التحول_الرقمي#القيادة#النجاح#المشاريع#التقنية
View on LinkedIn ↗
May 6, 2026

Most factories don't need another AI pilot. They need AI that survives Monday morning. After working with manufacturing leaders on digital transformation roadmaps, I've noticed a pattern: the AI use cases that actually scale are rarely the flashy ones. Here's where AI is delivering measurable ROI on the shop floor today: 1. Predictive Maintenance — Vibration and thermal sensors feeding ML models can cut unplanned downtime by 30-50%. The catch? Your CMMS data must be clean before the algorithm touches it. 2. Computer Vision QC — Defect detection at line speed, replacing inconsistent manual inspection. We've seen scrap rates drop significantly within 90 days when deployed correctly. 3. Demand Forecasting — AI-driven S&OP reduces both stockouts and excess inventory. Especially powerful when integrated with supplier lead-time variability. 4. Energy Optimization — Reinforcement learning agents tuning HVAC, compressors, and furnaces. Often a 10-15% energy reduction with zero CAPEX beyond the model. 5. Generative AI for SOPs — Operators querying maintenance manuals in natural language (and in their native language) instead of flipping through 400-page PDFs. The real lesson from PMO experience: AI in manufacturing fails not because of the model, but because of weak data governance, unclear ownership, and lack of OT/IT alignment. The technology is ready. The operating model usually isn't. Which AI use case has delivered the strongest ROI in your operations — and what made it stick beyond the pilot phase?

View on LinkedIn ↗
May 6, 2026

Most IT service providers are still selling tickets, SLAs, and headcount. The smart ones are quietly replacing all three with AI agents. Here's what I'm seeing on the ground in enterprise delivery: 1. Service Desk Triage — AI agents now resolve up to 60% of L1 tickets without human routing. The provider's value shifts from volume to orchestration quality. 2. Project Status Reporting — Agents pull from Jira, Azure DevOps, and Teams to draft weekly PMO reports in minutes. Project managers move from reporters to decision-makers. 3. Vendor & Contract Intelligence — Agents read SOWs, flag scope drift, and benchmark rates. Procurement cycles compress from weeks to days. 4. Demand Intake — Instead of static forms, conversational agents qualify business requests, estimate effort, and route to the right delivery pod automatically. The uncomfortable truth for service providers: the billable-hour model is being disrupted from inside the delivery function. Clients are starting to ask a different question. Not "how many engineers will you assign?" but "how many agents are in your delivery stack, and what's your human-to-agent ratio?" The providers who win the next 24 months won't be the cheapest or the largest. They'll be the ones who productize AI agents into their service catalog with clear governance, measurable outcomes, and transparent economics. The rest will compete on price until the margin disappears. Question for fellow delivery and PMO leaders: Are you treating AI agents as a tool your team uses, or as a service line your organization sells? #AIStrategy #DigitalTransformation #PMO #ITGovernance #AIAgents

View on LinkedIn ↗
May 6, 2026

Most PMs are still using AI to summarize meeting notes. That's the floor, not the ceiling. After deploying GenAI across delivery teams at EMKAN, I've seen where it actually moves the needle, and where it quietly fails. The difference isn't the model. It's how you wire it into your delivery process, your governance, and your decision rhythm. Here are 5 high-leverage ways project managers should be using OpenAI right now, beyond the obvious productivity hacks. Swipe through. Slide 1: Risk Detection Before the Status Report Feed historical project data into GPT to surface delay patterns 2-3 sprints before they hit the RAG dashboard. Slide 2: Stakeholder Communication at Scale Generate tailored updates for executives, sponsors, and tech teams from a single source of truth, in the right tone for each. Slide 3: Requirements Disambiguation Use GPT to challenge vague user stories and expose hidden assumptions before they become change requests. Slide 4: Resource & Capacity Forecasting Combine timesheet data with GPT analysis to predict bottlenecks and reallocate before burnout hits the team. Slide 5: Lessons Learned That Actually Get Used Turn closed-project archives into a queryable knowledge base, so the next PM inherits insight, not PDFs. The PMs who win the next 24 months won't be the ones who adopt AI. They'll be the ones who redesign delivery around it. Which of these are you already doing? Which one feels furthest away? #ProjectManagement #AIStrategy #DigitalTransformation #PMO #GenAI

View on LinkedIn ↗
May 6, 2026

Most enterprises are still treating AI agents like chatbots with extra steps. That's a strategic mistake. AI agents aren't a feature — they're an operating model shift. After leading delivery across multiple transformation programs, I've seen the gap between organizations that deploy agents and those that actually scale them. The difference isn't the model. It's the governance, the delivery muscle, and the willingness to redesign workflows around autonomy — not around the org chart. Here's what executives need to understand before scaling AI agents in 2025. Slide 1: The Real Definition of an AI Agent Not a chatbot. An autonomous system that perceives, decides, and acts toward a goal — with measurable accountability. Slide 2: Why Most Agent Pilots Die at Stage 2 78% of pilots fail not on accuracy, but on integration, ownership, and unclear escalation paths to humans. Slide 3: The Governance Layer Nobody Talks About Agents need identity, permissions, audit trails, and kill switches — treat them as digital employees, not features. Slide 4: PMO's New Mandate in the Agent Era Delivery shifts from managing tasks to orchestrating human-agent workflows, SLAs, and outcome-based KPIs. Slide 5: The 90-Day Enterprise Readiness Checklist Data contracts, role redesign, agent registry, risk thresholds, and a single accountable owner — before you scale. If your AI strategy doesn't address governance and delivery in the same breath as the model, you're building on sand. What's the biggest blocker you're seeing in agent adoption? #AIAgents #DigitalTransformation #PMO #ITGovernance #AIStrategy

View on LinkedIn ↗
Beyond the Desk · أثرٌ يتجاوز المكتب

Speaking & Community

Public Speaker 2025

College of Informatics — AI Orientation Day

MidOcean University · جامعة ميدأوشن · Online speaker · welcoming new students

Online speaker at MidOcean University’s College of Informatics (AI Department) orientation, welcoming new students — sharing practical guidance on consistency, balancing responsibilities, and turning theory into hands-on AI skills.

#MidoceanUniversity#AI#جامعة_ميدأوشن
Watch on YouTube ↗
Public Speaker Mar 2026

Alternative Education Engineering Forum

Nafir · نفير · Nafeer Digital Transformation Hackathon

Invited speaker on data-center challenges in education, e-learning access, disaster recovery (DR) for service continuity, and cybersecurity for educational data — so the “digital school” keeps running in any circumstance.

#هاكاثون_نفير#التحول_الرقمي#السودان#التعليم_الرقمي
Watch on YouTube ↗
AI MENA Network
Recognition 2026

Featured by AI MENA Network

AI MENA Network · AI project & IT demand management

Featured by the AI MENA Network in recognition of contributions to AI-driven project management and IT demand management.

#AI_MENA#AIProjectManagement#DemandManagement
View on LinkedIn ↗
Arabic Stars
Recognition 2026

Recognized by Arabic Stars

Arabic Stars · Digital transformation · program management

Recognized by Arabic Stars for impact in digital transformation, program management, and the Nafir digital-transformation initiative.

#DigitalTransformation#ProgramManagement#Nafir
View on LinkedIn ↗
Alsiddiq M. Abdullah
An Audience

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