Council of Ministers: Membership
The Council of Ministers was established by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud in 1953. It consists of the King who is the Prime Minister, the Crown Prince who is Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet ministers. Under the bylaws announced by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in September 1993, the Council is responsible for drafting and overseeing the implementation of the internal, external, financial, economic, educational and defense policies, and general affairs of the state. The Council meets weekly and is presided over by the King or one of his deputies.
On April 30, 2003, King Fahd issued Royal Decrees renaming a number of ministries, and dissolving two of them, effective May 3, 2003, to give a cabinet of 21 ministers with portfolio and 5 ministers of state in addition to himself as Prime Minister and Crown Prince Abdullah as Deputy Prime Minister. On December 23, 2003 he decreed a sixth minister of state with special responsibilities for the affairs of the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura). On March 22, 2004, the Ministry of Labor and Social Services was divided into two, so that there are now 22 ministers with portfolio. On July 24, 2005, a new minister of state was appointed, with special responsibilities for foreign affairs. On March 25, 2011, King Abdullah issued a Royal Decree establishing the Ministry of Housing. There are now 23 ministries and 7 ministers of state, two of them with portfolio.
Previous changes are:
On July 16, 2001, the Council of Ministers resolved to divide the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, and create a 23rd ministry; the new Minister was named on September 16, 2002, and the Ministry of Water came into effect on that date.
On June 16, 1999, royal decrees made changes in the cabinet, and created a 22nd ministry, the Ministry of Civil Service.
On August 2, 1995, King Fahd issued a Royal Decree dissolving the Council of Ministers and announcing the names of Ministers in the new Cabinet under his chairmanship.
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MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AS OF NOVEMBER 2010:
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Prime Minister:
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
King Abdullah assumed the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 25 Jumada al-Thani 1426H (August 1, 2005), on the death of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz. The son of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud, the legendary founder of the modern Kingdom, King Abdullah inherited his father's legacy as the guardian of a nation deeply rooted in the Islamic faith. He was Crown Prince to King Fahd from 1982 to 2005.
King Abdullah was born in Riyadh in 1924 and received formal education from religious scholars and intellectuals. He was commander the Saudi National Guard from 1963 to 2010. Extended biography
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MINISTERS WITH PORTFOLIO
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Defense:
HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Born: 1935 in Riyadh
Education: Studied at the Princes's School studied religion and modern science.
Positions Held: Acting Mayor of Riyadh, 1954; Mayor of Riyadh 1955-60; Governor of Riyadh Province, 1963-2011. Appointed Minister of Defense by King Abdullah on November 5, 2011. Named Crown Prince by King Abdullah on JUne 18, 2012. Extended biography
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Minister of Foreign Affairs:
HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Born: 1940
Education: BA in Economics, Princeton University, 1964.
Positions Held: Deputy Governor of Petromin, 1970-71; Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, 1971; Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1975.
Minister of Education:
Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Saud
Born: 1949 in Riyadh
Education: MA in Industrial Engineering, Stanford University, CA, USA; BA in Business Administration, Menlo College in the USA.
Positions Held: Research and Industrial Development Center at the Ministry of Commerce from 1971 to 1973; Undersecretary for the National Guard's Western Sector 1992 to 2003; Deputy Chief of the General Intelligence 2003-2009; Minister of Education since February 14, 2009.
Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs:
HRH Prince Mansour bin Met'eb bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Born: 1952
Education: PhD in Public Administration, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Positions Held: Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, 2006-2009; Chairman of the General Committee for Municipal Elections; faculty member at the Department of Public Administration at the School of Administrative Science, King Saud University; Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs since November 2, 2009.
Minister of the Interior:
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Born: 1959 in Jeddah
Education: BA in Political Science, 1981
Positions Held: Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs (1999-2012); Minister of Interior since November 5, 2012.
Minister of the National Guard
Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Born: Riyadh
Education: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom, 1974; M.A. Military Science, Command and Staff College, Riyadh.
Positions Held: Member of the faculty of the National Guards military schools; chaired the committee charged with developing the curricula of the newly formed King Khalid Military College, 1982; appointed Commandant of the King Khalid Military College, 1983; Deputy Head National Guard military unit,1990-2000; Deputy Assistant Chief of National Guard for Military Affairs, 2000-2010; Deputy Chief of National Guard for Executive Affairs, June 11, 2010- October 20, 2010; Appointed Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers and head of the National Guard, October 20, 2010. Minister of the National Guard since May 27, 2013.
Minister of Agriculture:
Dr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghanaim
Born:1952
Education: PhD in Civil Engineering,Transportation, Michigan University; MSc Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Stanford University; BSc Civil Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Positions Held: member of the services, public facilities, and environment committee of the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura) 2001-2003; Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC); Deputy Minister for Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water; Minister of Agriculture since May 2003.
Minister of Water and Electricity:
Abdullah Al-Hosain
Born:
Education:
Positions held: Deputy Minister for Electricity, and Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWWC); Minister of Water and Electricity since April 13, 2004
Minister of Civil Service:
Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Barak
Born:
Education:
Positions held: Assistant Speaker of the Shoura Council.
Minister of Finance:
Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf
Born: 1949
Education: PhD in Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; MA in Economics, Denver University, Colorado; BA in Economics and Political Science, King Saud University, Riyadh.
Positions Held: Lecturer in principles of economics 1971-1982, then associate professor of economics and head of the Department of Administrative Sciences 1982-1986 at King Abdul Aziz Military College in Riyadh; guest lecturer 1982-1983 at the College of Command and Staff; part-time advisor to the Saudi Development Fund 1982-1986; alternate Saudi executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 1986-1989; Saudi executive director on the executive board of the World Bank Group 1989-1995; vice-governor of the Saudi Monetary Agency June to October 1995; Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers October 1995 to January 1996; Minister of Finance and National Economy 1996-2003; Minister of Finance since May 2003.
Minister of Health:
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah
Born: 1955 in Riyadh
Education: MA in Pediatric Surgery, Alberta University, Canada, 1985; Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, King Saud University, 1979. Canadian Board of Surgeons, 1985; Canadian Board of Pediatric Surgeons, 1987.
Positions Held: Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery, King Saud University, King Saud University; pediatric surgery consultant at King Khaled University, King Khaled National Guard Hospital and King Fahd Specialist Hospital; Executive Director General of Health Affairs at the National Guard, 2005-2009; Minister of Health since February 14, 2009.
Minister of Higher Education:
Dr. Khalid Al-Angary
Born: 1952
Education: PhD in Geography, University of Florida, 1981.
Positions Held: Assistant Professor, King Saud University, 1981-83; Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, 1983-84; Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, 1990; Minister of Higher Education since 1991.
Minister of Commerce and Industry:
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah
Born:
Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Pittsburgh; M.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Information Science, King Saudi University; B.A. in Financial Management and Mathematics, King Saud University.
Positions Held: Director General Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON) since 2007; Acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (2010-2012; Supervisor for the National Industrial Strategy (2010-2012); Director General of the Information and Communications Technology sector at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA); Faculty member at King Saud University; teaching fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. Minister of Commerce and Industry since April 30, 2003.
Minister of Culture and Information:
Dr. Abdulaziz Khojah
Born: 1940 in Makkah
Education: PhD in Organic Chemistry, Birmingham University, UK, 1969; MA in Organic Chemistry, UK, 1967; BS, King Saud University.
Positions Held: Dean of the Faculty of Education, Makkah 1979-1984; Undersecretary for Information Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Information 1984 to 1991. Since 1991 served as Saudi ambassador to Turkey, Russia, Morocco and Lebanon. Minister of Culture and Information since February 14, 2009.
Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance:
Shaikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Ashaikh
Born:
Education:
Positions Held: Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance since 1999.
Minister of Justice:
Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkareem Al-Issa
Born: June 9, 1965
Education: PhD, Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, MA, Imam Muhammad bin Saud University.
Positions Held: Vice President to the Board of Grievances, 2007-2009; Minister of Justice since February 14, 2009.
Minister of Labor:
Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih
Born: 1379 H (1959), in Makkah
Education: BA in Industrial Engineering
Positions Held: Mayor of Jeddah Municipality, 2005-2010; Chairman of The Savola Group; Chief of Development of Services and Facilities at the Council of Makkah Region; Member of the Municipal Council of Jeddah Municipality; Member of the Supreme Body for Developing Makkah Region; President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jeddah; Chairman of Al-Jazirah Bank; Member of the Supreme Commission for Tourism; Member of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu; Minister of Labor since August 18, 2010.
Minister of Social Affairs:
Dr. Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen
Born:
Education:
Positions Held: Secretary-general of the King Abdullah Foundation for His Parents on Housing Development; Minister of Social Affairs since May 28, 2008.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources:
Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi
Born: 1935
Education: MSc Geology, Stanford University, USA; BSc, Geology, LeHigh University.
Positions Held: Joined ARAMCO in 1947; Supervisor, Production Department, Abqaiq, 1969; Assistant Director, then Director of Production, Northern Province, 1972-75; Vice-President, Production Affairs, 1975; Vice-President, Petroleum Affairs, 1978; Member, Board of Directors, 1980; Executive Vice-President, Oil and Gas Affairs, 1981; President, Saudi Aramco, 1983; Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources since 1995.
Minister of Hajj:
Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Hajjar
Born:
Education: PhD.
Positions Held:
Minister of National Economy and Planning:
Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al-Jasser
Born:
Education:
Positions Held: Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA)
Minister of Communications and Information Technology:
Muhammad bin Jameel Mulla
Born: December 12, 1946 in Medinah
Education: M.S. in Telecommunications, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA, 1979; B.S. in Electrical Engineering, King Saud University, 1972.
Positions Held: Governor, Saudi Communications Commission; Deputy Minister of Post, Telegraph and Telephone for Engineering Affairs; Assistant Deputy Minister of Post, Telegraph and Telephone for Operation and Maintenance Affairs; General Manager, Central Region for Telecommunications; Manager, Riyadh District for Telecommunications; Electrical Engineer, Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone ; Radio Engineer, Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone, 1972. Minister of Communications and Information Technology since May 2003.
Minister of Transport:
Dr. Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraiseri
Born:
Education:
Positions Held: Minister of Transport since May 2003.
Minister of Housing:
Dr. Shuwaish bin Saudi bin Duwaihi Al-Duwaihi
Born: 1962
Education: PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management, Cranfield University, United Kingdom, 1998; MS in Mechanical Engineering, King Saud University, 1993; BS in Industrial Engineering, King Saud University, 1991.
Positions Held: Member, Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council), 1997-2005; Governor, General Housing Authority, 2008-2011; Minister of Housing since March 2011, when the Ministry was created.
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MINISTERS OF STATE:
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (11/17/2010);
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz ;
Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Khuweiter ;
Dr. Muttlab bin Abdullah Al-Nafissa ;
Dr. Musaid bin Muhammad Al-Eiban ;
Dr. Saud bin Saeed Al-Met'hami (12/23/2003; for Shura Affairs)
Dr. Nizar Obeid Madani (08/29/05; for Foreign Affairs)
