Khaled Osama Kurdi
Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
Summary
Senior executive with 20 years of experience in banking, tourism, and destination development. Expertise in driving strategic growth, leading transformation initiatives, and building impactful partnerships. Currently oversees the destination management office at the Royal Commission for Makkah City, focusing on integrated strategies to enhance visitor experiences and strengthen stakeholder collaboration. Previously led market development and partnerships at the Saudi Tourism Authority, boosting tourism offerings in the Asia-Pacific region.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
General Manager, Destination Management Office
Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites
Makkah, Saudi Arabia
07.2025 - 04.2026
- Achieved significant enhancements in visitor experiences leading to increased cultural site visitation.
- Delivered a cohesive destination strategy aligned with Makkah’s city vision and national tourism goals.
- Facilitated strong stakeholder integration resulting in a unified destination management approach.
- Created seamless visitor journeys that highlighted Makkah’s historical and cultural richness.
- Developed innovative tourism offerings that expanded Makkah’s appeal beyond religious tourism.
- Enabled trade partners to effectively promote Makkah through strategic insights and tools.
- Established key performance indicators that measured engagement and competitiveness effectively.
- Managed end-to-end visitor experiences ensuring high satisfaction and quality.
- Drove high standards of guest experiences across all destination touchpoints.
- Standardised operating procedures that elevated service quality across the destination.
Supply & Partnership Director – Asia–Pacific (APAC) Market
Saudi Tourism Authority
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
12.2024 - 07.2025
- Developing, managing, and optimizing relationships within the tourism ecosystem, including tourism boards, hotels, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), private sector stakeholders, government entities, railways, and aviation partners. Drive tourism growth, enhancing destination competitiveness, and creating collaborative initiatives that strengthen the overall visitor experience, visitation & spending.
- Drive Partnership Organic & Inorganic Growth: Develop and lead strategic initiatives along with the tourism ecosystem partners, DMO, hospitality, government entities, DMCs, and international trade partners to position Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination resulting sustainable growth in tourist’s visitation and spending.
- Experience & Product Innovation: Working with partners to develop new tourism experiences that cater to evolving traveller preferences.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Leading APAC partners within tourism ecosystem to participate & contribute to deliver results according to APAC strategy and goals.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Use insights to refine strategies, identify opportunities, and optimize partnerships for greater efficiency and impact.
- Relationship Management: Evaluate partner contributions and collaboration effectiveness to encourage continuous improvement.
Market Offering Section Head – Asia–Pacific (APAC) Market
Saudi Tourism Authority
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
12.2021 - 12.2024
- Designing, enhancing, and managing tourism offerings across leisure and Umrah Plus, in collaboration with DMCs, hotels, airlines, and other stakeholders to create packages & experiences that bookable and competitive to drive visitation, spending and market growth.
- Product Development & Innovation: Design and implement tourism products and experiences that cater to both leisure and Umrah plus markets.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with DMCs, hotels, airlines, and other partners to co-create and package unique tourism offerings that align with market demand.
- Experience Enhancement: Identify and develop immersive, culturally rich experiences that showcase the destination’s diverse heritage and attractions.
- Market Alignment: Ensure tourism products meet the needs of targeted segments, enhancing destination appeal and driving increased visitation.
- Project Execution: Oversee the end-to-end development of new tourism initiatives, from concept to market launch, ensuring quality and alignment with strategic objectives.
Business Development Senior Manager – Private Banking Division
Saudi National Bank
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
12.2013 - 10.2021
- Designing and delivering bespoke banking products and exclusive client experiences, in collaboration with internal teams and external industry partners to develop tailored financial solutions that meet the unique needs of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), driving business growth and client satisfaction.
- Product Development & Customization: Design and implement bespoke banking products and financial solutions tailored to the complex needs of Private Banking clients.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to enhance product offerings and client experiences.
- Client Experience Innovation: Develop and deliver exclusive, personalized experiences that strengthen client relationships and enhance brand loyalty.
- Market Research & Insights: Analyse client needs, market trends, and competitive offerings to identify new business opportunities and refine value proposition.
- Revenue Growth & Client Acquisition: Drive business growth by identifying new client segments, deepening existing relationships, and launching innovative financial solutions.
Strategy Senior Manager – Retail Banking Sector
Saudi National Bank
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
03.2013 - 12.2013
- Developing and executing, strategic initiatives to drive business growth, enhance customer experiences, and improve operational efficiency. Analysing market trends, identifying growth opportunities, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative banking solutions aligned with the bank’s strategy.
- Strategic Planning & Execution: Design and implement comprehensive strategies to grow market share, improve customer engagement, and enhance product offerings.
- Market Analysis & Insights: Conduct in-depth market research to identify emerging trends, customer needs, and competitive positioning to inform strategic decisions.
- Performance Monitoring: Establish KPIs to track the success of strategic programs and continuously optimize strategies based on performance data.
- Innovation & Growth: Identify new business opportunities, drive digital transformation, and develop customer-centric solutions to enhance the bank’s competitive edge.
- Monitoring and interpretation: Evaluating market size, competitor accomplishments and industry structures. Responsible for coordinating and establishing consolidated business plans for all sectors.
Senior Manager – Marketing & Retail Banking
National Bank of Kuwait
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
06.2010 - 02.2013
- Developing and executing the Retail Banking strategy, overseeing the design and delivery of innovative products and services, and driving business expansion. Focusing on building a competitive Retail Banking portfolio tailored to local market needs and targeted client segments in line with the bank’s growth objectives & strategy.
- Retail Strategy Development: Formulate and implement a comprehensive Retail Banking strategy to establish market presence, attract customers, and drive sustainable growth.
- Product & Service Innovation: Oversee the design and launch of Retail Banking products customized for the Saudi market and aligned with customer needs.
- Business Growth: Led the Division, driving growth by developing and executing comprehensive strategies including product innovation, customer experience, and the achievement of financial and business targets.
- Brand Positioning: Elevate brand visibility, promote product offerings, and strengthen market share among foreigner banks in Saudi Arabia, while ensuring superior customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Education
Bachelor’s - Business Administration
King Faisal University
Leadership Development Program -
Center for Creative Leadership
Colorado, USASkills
- Product launch expertise
- Business development
- Business networking
- Product development
- Customer relationship management
- Leadership
- Visitor experience enhancement
- Strategic business development
Languages
Arabic: Native
English: Fluent
Timeline
General Manager, Destination Management Office
Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites
07.2025 - 04.2026
Supply & Partnership Director – Asia–Pacific (APAC) Market
Saudi Tourism Authority
12.2024 - 07.2025
Market Offering Section Head – Asia–Pacific (APAC) Market
Saudi Tourism Authority
12.2021 - 12.2024
Business Development Senior Manager – Private Banking Division
Saudi National Bank
12.2013 - 10.2021
Strategy Senior Manager – Retail Banking Sector
Saudi National Bank
03.2013 - 12.2013
Senior Manager – Marketing & Retail Banking
National Bank of Kuwait
06.2010 - 02.2013
Bachelor’s - Business Administration
King Faisal University
Leadership Development Program -
Center for Creative Leadership