Saudi Investment Bank
SAIB Overseas Study Tour

The Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB) is one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leading financial institutions, delivering a broad range of corporate and retail banking services. With a strong focus on innovation, governance and sustainable growth, SAIB plays a pivotal role in supporting the Kingdom’s evolving financial landscape.

For this programme, SAIB through their education and learning department “SAIB Academy” partnered with both Møller Institute and Intuition to design and deliver a high-impact learning experience. Møller Institute and Intuition worked collaboratively to ensure the programme combined academic rigour with practical, industry-relevant learning, tailored to SAIB’s strategic priorities.

Developing future-ready talent is a strategic priority for SAIB. As part of its Graduate Development Programme, SAIB Academy sought to equip high-potential graduates with the advanced technical knowledge and broader business perspective required to succeed in a rapidly evolving financial services environment.

To complement a year-long programme of classroom learning, work rotations and capstone projects, SAIB Academy introduced an Overseas Study Tour. The aim was to provide participants with exposure to global best practice, while strengthening their ability to apply learning in a real-world context.

Møller Institute was selected for its ability to combine Cambridge academic excellence with practical, applied learning, working in close collaboration with both SAIB and Intuition to design a highly immersive and impactful experience.

The Overseas Study Tour was designed as the capstone of SAIB’s Graduate Development Programme, bringing together high-performing graduate trainees for an intensive and immersive learning experience.

Blending academic rigour with practical application, the programme focused on developing both technical expertise and strategic insight. Participants were challenged to engage with real-world issues, equipping them to contribute more effectively to SAIB’s strategic priorities.

A defining feature of the programme was its dual-track structure:

• IT Track (led by Møller Institute) – covering Data Science, Cybersecurity and IT microservices
• Business Track (led by Intuition, with contributions from Møller faculty) – covering Treasury Management and Corporate Credit

Participants were split into two groups for classroom sessions, enabling a more focused and relevant learning experience aligned to their areas of specialism.

The Study Tour also incorporated visits to leading organisations across banking and technology, providing participants with direct exposure to innovation and industry best practice.

Delivered as a two-week residential study tour in Cambridge, the programme combined faculty-led teaching, applied learning and direct engagement with industry.

Mornings were dedicated to interactive, faculty-led sessions aligned to each learning track. Within the IT Track, sessions explored how emerging technologies, including data science, cybersecurity and digital architecture, are reshaping the financial services sector.

Industry engagement formed a key part of the experience. Participants visited organisations including ING, Endava, and Darktrace, gaining first-hand insight into how leading institutions are applying innovation in practice across banking, cybersecurity and technology.

These visits provided valuable context for the academic content, enabling participants to connect theory with real-world application and better understand how global organisations are responding to technological change.

IT Track: Faculty and Session Highlights

The IT Track brought together leading academics and industry practitioners, offering participants a distinctive blend of cutting-edge research and real-world insight.

Key sessions included:

• Strategic Data Management in Banking, led by Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz, exploring how financial institutions leverage data, AI and governance frameworks to drive competitive advantage
• Data-Driven Leadership: Turning Insights into Strategy, delivered by Michael Nasra, focusing on how data can inform strategic decision-making
• Cyber Risk Management in the Financial Sector, led by Danny Lopez, examining how organisations assess and respond to evolving cyber threats
• Cyber Threat Modelling and Destructive Cyber Attacks, delivered by Dr Craig Jarvis, providing hands-on experience in identifying vulnerabilities and responding to complex cyber scenarios
• Organisational Change Management for Digital Transformation, delivered by Dr Jasmin Jahić, exploring how to lead and embed technological change within complex banking environments

Sessions were highly interactive, combining expert input with discussion, practical exercises and applied case work.

This blend of academic and industry expertise ensured participants developed both a strong conceptual foundation and the confidence to apply their learning in practice.

A central component of the programme was the development of capstone projects, which enabled participants to apply their learning to real business challenges aligned with SAIB’s strategic priorities.

Participants presented their projects to a joint panel from Møller Institute and Intuition, receiving detailed feedback to refine their ideas. They then presented again in Saudi Arabia to SAIB’s senior leadership as part of the SAIB Innovate initiative.

The projects were evaluated against a range of criteria, with many of the winning ideas emerging from this cohort. Several of these ideas are now being implemented within the Bank, demonstrating a clear and tangible return on investment.

Overall, the programme was extremely well received, with participants highlighting:

• The relevance and practical application of the content
• The strength of the IT-focused learning experience
• The opportunity to work on real, high-impact business challenges
• The value of exposure to both academic experts and industry practitioners

Participants reported increased confidence in engaging with complex technological topics and contributing to SAIB’s digital transformation agenda.

Khalid Alsagr, SVP – Academy and Talent at SAIB, commented:

“SAIB Graduate Development Programme combines best-in-class development through on-the-job training, instructor-led learning, online learning, professional certifications, and a six-month applied business project. Working with the Møller Institute team was a highly positive experience – their expertise, collaborative approach, and attention to detail ensured the programme was thoughtfully designed and delivered to a very high standard. The programme develops future-ready talent equipped to deliver practical end-to-end projects that generate measurable business value for the Bank.”

For SAIB, the programme has strengthened its graduate talent pipeline, supporting the development of future leaders equipped to navigate complexity, drive innovation, and deliver long-term impact.