After many successful years with Aramco, Safaa has returned to KAUST to serve as KAUST’s Chief Audit Executive, bringing with her a wealth of experience gained across the banking, education, and oil and gas industries.

Her most recent position before her current role at KAUST was that of chief auditor with Aramco Europe in The Hague, Netherlands, where she reported directly to the Board of Audit Committee (BAC). As the chief auditor, Safaa demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and oversaw the internal control systems. Moreover, as the first female to hold the position of chief auditor, Safaa broke barriers and set a precedent for excellence. Safaa's extensive tenure at Aramco, spanning from January 2013 to November 2023, showcased her growth within the organization. She began as an internal auditor, then progressed to senior auditor and ultimately earned the role of chief auditor.

Earlier in her career, Safaa was a founding staff member at KAUST when it was founded in January 2008, where she continued her career until December 2012. During her time at KAUST, she contributed significantly to establishing the internal audit function. Prior to her role at KAUST, she worked as an associate internal auditor at Riyad Bank.

Safaa's academic achievements include obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction (first-class honors) from the University of Birmingham, U.K. During her studies, she served as a postgraduate mentor and received multiple awards, recognizing her excellence in presentation, inquisitive mindset, future leadership potential, and anticipated success over the next decade. She holds a Bachelor of Accounting from King Saud University as well as several leadership program certificates from Harvard Business School.

Since rejoining KAUST in December 2023, Safaa has played a pivotal role in supporting KAUST’s Board of Trustees, the Audit Committee, the President and the University as a whole to ensure robust internal controls.