Hi! We are DesignThinkers Saudi Arabia
As a strategic partner in Saudi Arabia, we bring leading European expertise to support the Vision 2030 transformation, helping organizations translate strategy into human-centered services that improve lives and deliver measurable results. Through facilitation, coaching, and training, we promote a shared innovation language and build capabilities that enhance the citizen experience. With over 20 years in the industry, operations in 25 countries, collaborations with Fortune 500 clients, 175k global alumni, and a network of 150+ design professionals, we combine a deep understanding of local cultures with proven international strategies to drive lasting change.
We build together to create lasting impact.
As one of the leading ‘design-driven’ Global Innovation Consultancies operating in Saudi Arabia, we help organizations deliver on their innovation strategies with a strong human-centered focus. Specializing in Future Innovation Leadership, Digital Innovation in Financial and Governmental Services, Healthcare System Transformation, AI, and Strategic Growth, we train, develop, and facilitate multidisciplinary teams and communities of change across the globe. With a proven track record in digital government, public sector innovation, and customer experience strategy, we’ve partnered with forward-thinking institutions such as the Digital Government Authority, PMO UAE, Takamol, Tamimi Markets, FedEx, Novartis, Arweqah, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Metro, PIF, and MDLBEAST.
We’ve built long-standing partnerships with organizations like the DIFC and Arweqah to drive innovation and education. Through the 1 Million Learners Program, we’ve helped enhance AI literacy across students, educators, and corporates, preparing future-ready talent in line with UAE Vision 2030. Additionally, in collaboration with Arweqah, we’re delivering Arabic-language training in human-centered design and innovation, empowering local communities with essential skills to lead change.
Tamimi Markets | Building a Unified Culture for Growth
Tamimi Markets has built its reputation on exceptional customer experience, product quality, and deep community engagement. As it aims to become the leading online grocery destination in the country, Tamimi faces a key challenge: achieving strategic alignment across all levels. By fostering co-creation and uniting leadership and frontline teams around a shared vision, Tamimi is strengthening collaboration and embracing digital innovation to drive sustainable growth.
Adidas | Elevating UX in Adidas Global Team-wear Customization Platform
The global team sports division at Adidas recognized a focused UX and user interface design strategy informed by user research and validation would elevate the entire LockerRoom experience. Together with the GTS team, we forged a vision for 2024, setting the stage for the platform’s immediate and enduring success, driving sales, engagement, and digital innovation in sports retail.
Saudi DGA | Driving Digital Transformation through DT
How can AI enhance, rather than replace, the human touch in public services? Our bespoke program for the DGA brought together interdisciplinary teams to actively explore and apply human-centered approaches to AI in service design. Participants worked hands-on with AI tools to improve creativity, empathy, and collaboration across teams. This was designed for public sector professionals leading digital transformation, service delivery, and innovation.
King Fahad Medical City | Building the Future of Healthcare
Facilitating interdisciplinary teams find new ways to interact and optimise their work together in a human-centered environment. Getting basic knowledge of Design Thinking methodologies that encourage integration, teamwork and exchange between all levels of the organisation hierarchy. Aimed at staff, supervisors, chiefs, and team leads, this approach supports stronger team dynamics and lays the groundwork for digital innovation and improved citizen experience in service delivery.
Coca-Cola | Robust employee services using Design Thinking
Our collaboration with Coca-Cola highlighted Design Thinking in HR. DesignThinkers helped redesign Coca-Cola's HR and employee ecosystem. We facilitated Design Councils with Coca-Cola employees and HR professionals to improve services, especially for hiring and onboarding. The result was a set of prototypes and roadmaps for implementing the pilots.
Public Investment Fund | Building Innovation Capabilities
Through a series of trainings including Design Thinking Fundamentals, Facilitation, Employee Experience, DT & AI, and Systems Thinking, we helped teams build the skills to lead innovation from within. Participants gained new competencies in framing challenges, co-creating solutions, prototyping ideas, and applying user insights. Participants walked away with new competencies including strengthened collaboration, creative confidence, and a shared language of innovation.
KFAS | Fostering the Human Touch in Digital Transformation
KFAS is dedicated to fostering continuous learning and innovation, empowering individuals and organizations to stay competitive. Focused on future-ready talent, KFAS supports professionals in becoming innovation-driven, enabling them to adapt and thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. DesignThinkers collaborated with KFAS to provide them with an in-depth understanding of how Design Thinking can be a catalyst for successful digital transformation.
Emirates NBD | Fostering a Culture of Human-centric Innovation
Emirates NBD is taking strides to become a human-centered financial service provider. Beyond offering Design Thinking trainings to their employees, the organization aims to embed this approach deeply into the organizational culture. By developing long-lasting skills, Emirates NBD aims to ensure that employees can apply Design Thinking across projects and daily operations.
ING | Accelerating Innovation Processes to Improve User-Centricity
ING is preparing for future-proof innovation. Therefore, with facilitation by DesignThinkers, we accelerated an innovation process that embeds the users’ perspective in product & service development. As a result, we successfully combined Lean, Agile & Scrum with Design Thinking. In this manner, we empowered ING to bring relevant solutions to the market faster.
Dubai Future Foundation | Futures Thinking meets DT
DesignThinkers was invited to facilitate a Design Sprint with the Dubai Future Foundation Legal Team and IT specialists to explore the Legal technology roadmap leading up to a first prototype. We guided the team to work towards validated Service Blueprints, developing a legal technology roadmap and prototype which are ready for further development.
Etisalat | Co-creation to elevate Employee Experience
The Etisalat HR organization is involved in the design and implementation of services offered to employees of Etisalat. The Etisalat HR team feels that the Design Thinking way of working can help them deliver human-centered services, resulting in inspiring workplaces for employees. DesignThinkers was asked to coach the Etisalat HR team in co-creation activities to work on a concrete HR challenge. That includes also training employees using a learning-by-doing approach.
A Design Thinking approach
We’re dedicated to nurturing organizations to become truly future-ready, providing the tools to identify valuable opportunities and nurture valuable solutions. We flip insights and consumer data into first ideas, enabling teams to make informed decisions on which directions to pursue, and teaching them the tricks along the way. As we build upon your organization’s foundation, we support motivated, innovation-ready teams and foster essential connections.
Figure 1. Driving Content & Shaping Culture through Design-Driven Strategy
"We empower you through content and capability."
We do this with a designer’s mindset (Design Thinking) which is a widely recognised method in developing innovative and relevant solutions for complex challenges. It entails a hands-on approach with emphasis on teamwork and iterative learning through continuous validation. We stimulate teams to take a step back, assess the challenge and ask the right questions to uncover underlying needs of end-users and stakeholders. This is referred to as the ‘Problem Space’ and the main goal is value identification. We then stimulate team creativity to generate options to choose from and prototype and validate in multiple smaller steps to promote continuous learning and improvement. This is refereed to as the ‘Solution Space’ and the main goal is value realization. This approach allows us to realize products, services and experiences that are truly relevant.
"We define a customized route of both content and capability services to ensure an approach that unlocks your organization's potential."
Don’t just take our word for it...
What our valued clients from the Saudi Digital Government Authority think about our services.
From Amsterdam roots to global impact
DesignThinkers was founded over 20 years ago in the Netherlands by Tim Schuurman with a clear mission: to help organizations design services that put people at the center. What began in Amsterdam has since evolved into a global network, with teams now based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and an expanding network across the region.
We specialize in Design Thinking training, AI-powered innovation, and co-creation workshops that support governments and businesses in translating strategy into meaningful, citizen-centric services.
With a proven track record in public sector innovation and customer experience, we’ve partnered with organizations like the Digital Government Authority, PMO UAE, Tamimi Markets, FedEx, MDLBEAST, and King Fahad Medical City. Our work is further enriched by collaborations with academic and innovation leaders such as Dr. Rob Collins (Oxford University) and Taghi R. Zadeh (University of Amsterdam). We’re committed to making innovation real by building capabilities, designing for impact, and shaping services that improve lives.
GET IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERTS: TIM SCHUURMAN | Co-founder DesignThinkers & Saudi Expert
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