Abdullah Ali is a seasoned applications (SaaS) account executive with Oracle in Saudi Arabia with over a decade of experience in the tech industry, spanning sectors like telecommunications, cybersecurity, and mining. These days, he focuses on technology transformation and Oracle Fusion Cloud – solutions that are supercharging large enterprises across his MENA region on their journey to adopting cutting-edge cloud capabilities and driving positive business outcomes.
We caught up with Abdullah to find out just how much he’s grown in his time here, what’s next, and his advice for those wanting to break into SaaS at Oracle.
Thanks for chatting today, Abdullah. Can you share a bit about your professional background?
Of course! I have ten years’ experience in tech across various industries like telco, cybersecurity, and mining. I’ve worked with different tech providers like Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, and more. I’m a self-motivated technology leader with a strong background in technology transformation and Oracle Fusion Cloud solutions. It’s all about enabling large enterprise digital transformation programs. The rest of my experience is spread across workstream coordination, requirement analysis, solution design, and stakeholder management. I mainly focus on helping organizations adopt cloud capabilities and achieve measurable business outcomes.
That’s a very deep knowledge base and must have given you a lot of options on where to work. What attracted you to Oracle?
Oracle was the best choice because it is at the center of digital transformation globally, delivering scalable solutions that genuinely modernize how organizations operate. The pace of innovation – especially with Fusion Cloud and AI-driven capabilities – aligns perfectly with my ambitions. I wanted to be part of a company shaping the future of digital at massive scale.
Oracle and the tech space move faster and offer a broader canvas to influence customers. I wanted to work closer to innovation – where new capabilities can translate into real customer outcomes immediately.
Having your employer sync with your ambitions like that can really boost professional development. What were your first impressions on joining Oracle?
I was very proud of being with a company that is making an impact everywhere. That feeling really hit me during my first three months: welcoming meetings with colleagues and leaders, onboarding with C-Level customers, the number of users and customers, and the scale of impact. It’s all incredible. I realized I wasn’t just joining a company, but an ecosystem with real influence.
That must have been really motivating.
It was – and still is! I’m driven by the constant learning and the fast pace of working with Oracle. Every day brings a new challenge, a new customer scenario, or a new capability to explore. That sense of growth and progress is what keeps me energized.
What part does your team play in all this? The Saudi Arabia market is complex and fast-moving which makes collaboration a must.
Our team contributes to customer success by translating complex business needs into scalable Oracle digital solutions. We work closely with stakeholders to ensure smooth design, adoption, and value realization. By being proactive, collaborative, and detail-oriented, we help customers achieve faster outcomes with fewer risks.
One thing I really value on our team is how we rally around each other during critical moments – no ego, just solutions. It builds trust and makes even the toughest rollouts feel achievable. That mindset creates a space where everyone can grow and deliver at their best.
Getting into the day-to-day, what do things look like during a major rollout?
I always try to start the day with facts – reviewing risks, readiness. Most of the time I’m orchestrating alignment, removing blockers, and keeping everyone focused on delivering a clean rollout. It’s always good to focus on short, high-impact content – customer patterns, or lessons learned when there’s time.
Speaking of lessons learned… Can you share a learning experience that had a significant impact on you?
Sure! One of the key learning experiences I’m grateful for was leading a high-pressure deal with the biggest customer in EMEA. It taught me to simplify complexity quickly and focus on what truly moves the needle, fostering a stronger sense of ownership.
I’ve also been honored to learn from strong mentors across my career journey. At Oracle, I’ve had leaders who push me to think bigger and own outcomes – Mohammed El Chal, who championed my move to commercial and sales, and Bruno Morais, who helped me with focus and speeding up progress.
Which Oracle technologies are making the most impact on your side of the business right now?
SaaS Fusion, SaaS GIUs, and AI, as those capabilities are shaping the core business operations of any corporate to drive profitability and slim cost and expenses.
We’re just scratching the surface here, but it must be vindicating to know you’re promoting a full spectrum of solutions through Oracle and not just apps in isolation. What sets Oracle apart in terms of technology and as an employer?
I think our strength comes from its integrated cloud platform and unmatched enterprise depth that enables customers to scale securely and efficiently. As an employer, Oracle gives you global reach with a culture that values learning, ownership, and high-impact work.
That must lead to a lot of growth opportunities. How have you engaged with them?
I’m always gaining more technical knowledge, better consulting skills, and more confidence in handling customer-facing complexities. The team’s enablement helped me grow personally by becoming more proactive, organized, and adaptable in a dynamic environment.
What has been your most rewarding challenge so far?
I worked with a tough stakeholder who resisted engagement due to some challenges in previous interactions. We had a major breakthrough when we focused on clear communication, fast issue resolution, and transparency. They saw real progress and started advocating for Oracle services from that point. By year end, they had become one of our strongest champions because they finally felt supported and heard.
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