Saudi Arabia sets up new Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources

Saudi Arabia created a new ministry for industry and mineral resources, separating it from the energy ministry, in a series of royal orders published by state news media on Friday.

Bandar bin Ibrahim al-Khorayef was appointed head of the new ministry, which will become fully independent starting on January 1.

According to the royal order, “the powers, tasks and responsibilities related to the two sectors of industry and mineral resources shall be transferred to it.”

The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources will be renamed the Ministry of Energy.

As part of the changes, Fahd bin Mohammed al-Essa was appointed head of the royal court with the rank of minister.

The Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh

The Riyadh Development Authority has been transformed into a Royal Commission under the name The Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh.

The Commission shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, and its members shall be appointed by order of the Prime Minister. All tasks related to major national projects in Riyadh shall be transferred from the Committee of Major National Projects to the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh.

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority

A body is being established on behalf of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority directly linked to the Prime Minister and having a Board of Directors chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

A body called the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence will be established and directly affiliated with the Prime Minister.

A center called National Center for Artificial Intelligence and an office named National Data Management Office shall be established and linked in terms of organization to the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence.

The National Information Center is organizationally linked to the aforementioned Authority and shall continue to exercise its full powers, tasks and responsibilities, which it is currently undertaking, until the completion of the statutory procedures necessary to enable the Authority and its entities to carry out their powers, tasks and responsibilities.

The General Auditing Bureau will be renamed General Bureau for Auditing.

Other official changes

A number appointments have been made as part of the royal orders as well as officials being relieved of their posts.

Bandar bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Obayan has been appointed as Advisor at the Royal Court with the rank of Minister.

Dr. Awwad bin Saleh bin Abdullah al-Awwad was appointed as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission with the rank of Minister.

Dr. Khalid bin Abdul Mohsen bin Mohammed al-Mehaisen was relieved of his post as Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Mazen bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed al-Kahmous was appointed as Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the rank of Minister.

Aqala bin Ali al-Aqala has been relieved of his post as Deputy Chief of the Royal Court.

Dr. Tamadur bint Yousef bin Moqbel al-Rammah was relieved of her post as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development for Social Development.

Majid bin Abdulraheem bin Salem al-Ghanmi has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development for Social Development.

Dr. Khalil bin Musleh al-Thaqafi was relieved of his post as President of the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection.

Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf bin Jama’an al-Ghamdi was appointed as Director of the National Information Center.