New ministers: (Top-From right to left) Suleiman Aba Al-Khail (Islamic affairs), Suleiman Al-Homayyed (social affairs), Abdulaziz Al-Khudairi (minister of culture and information), Khaled Al-Sabti (higher education). (Below-From right to left) Abdullah Al-Moqbil (transport), Dr. Muhammad Al-Hiazaa (minister of health), Waleed Al-Khuraiji (agriculture), Fahaad Al-Hamad (communications and information technology). Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — In a major Cabinet reshuffle, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Monday replaced six ministers and appointed eight new ministers. Dr. Muhammad Al-Hiazaa is the new minister of health while Abdulaziz Al-Khudairi is new minister of culture and information, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to the royal decrees, six ministers have been relieved from their duties upon their request. They are Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh, minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance; Khaled Al-Anqari, minister of higher education; Muhammad Mulla, minister of communications and information technology; Yusuf Al-Othaimeen, minister of social affairs; Fahd Balghunaim, minister of agriculture; and Jubarah Al-Suraisri, minister of transport. They were replaced by Suleiman Aba Al-Khail (Islamic affairs), Khaled Al-Sabti (higher education), Fahaad Al-Hamad (communications and information technology), Suleiman Al-Homayyed (social affairs), Waleed Al-Khuraiji (agriculture), and Abdullah Al-Moqbil (transport). Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih was in charge of the ministry of health after Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah was relieved of his post in April this year. Minister of Culture and Information Abdulaziz Khoja was relieved of his post upon his request on Nov. 5. The King also appointed Assam Bin Saad, chairman of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers, as minister of state and member of the Cabinet, and he will hold the post as an additional charge. The King issued another decree promoting Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Amr, director general of the Civil Defense, and Maj. Gen. Othman Al-Mahraj, director of Public Security, to the rank of Lieutenant General. The royal decrees instructed the concerned authorities to carry out the orders with immediate effect. Abdulaziz Al-Khudairi has served in various capacities, including undersecretary at Makkah and Asir governorates, executive director of King Abdullah Public Education Development Project (Tatweer), CEO of Tatweer Education Holding Company, secretary general of the Makkah Development Authority, and associate professor of King Saud University of Riyadh. Al-Khudairi, who holds doctorate degree in strategic planning from the University of London and fellowship in regional development and Master's degree in urban planning from MIT Washington, is an expert in strategic planning and urban development. He is also an author of several books and research papers on development issues, in addition to a being a newspaper columnist. Waleed Al-Khuraiji, who obtained a degree in civil engineering from Miami University of Florida, is currently chairman of International Grains Council. He has served as director general of Grain Silos & Flour Mills Organization, ambassador to the Netherlands and the Kingdom's permanent representative to The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, director general of water and agriculture department in Makkah region, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom's representative to the International Criminal Court. Dr. Muhammad Al-Hiazaa holds doctorate degree in chemistry from the American University of Boston. He became president of Jazan University after serving as acting deputy president of King Khaled University, dean of science faculty at King Khaled University, dean of education faculty at King Saudi University of Abha, assistant professor at King Saud University of Riyadh, and secretary general of Abha High Education Prize. Dr. Khaled Al-Sabti is currently serving as deputy minister of education. A well-known technocrat, he holds Master's degree in computer science from Syracuse University of New York. Suleiman Al-Homayyed is holder of Master's degree in business administration from University of Northern Colorado. He is a member of the Shoura Council. After graduation, he joined the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) and served it in different capacities including its governor. Abdullah Al-Moqbil has served as mayor of Riyadh region, deputy minister of transport, assistant deputy minister of communications, director general of the department for studies and designing at the ministry of communications, besides supervising engineer of expressways in the Kingdom and the ring road in Riyadh.
He has won several awards for his outstanding contributions in the transport and communications sector. Fahaad Al-Hamad holds doctorate in philosophy from New York University. He has served as assistant president and member of the Shoura Council, and deputy director general of the general department for researches and information.
