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Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia

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Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia
مجلس الوزراء السعودي
Formation9 October 1953; 72 years ago (1953-10-09)
Legal statusConstitutional executive body
PurposeHighest executive body and cabinet of the Government of Saudi Arabia
Location
Mohammed bin Salman
Head of State
King Salman
Membership
Prime Minister, ministers with portfolio, and ministers of state
Main organ
Websitewww.my.gov.sa

The Council of Ministers (Arabic: مجلس الوزراء) is the cabinet and highest executive body of the Government of Saudi Arabia. It is chaired by the prime minister, a position traditionally held by either the king or the crown prince. Since 27 September 2022, the council has been chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[1]

History

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The Council of Ministers was established by King Abdulaziz in 1953. It is responsible for "drafting and overseeing the implementation of the internal, external, financial, economic, educational and defense policies, and general affairs of the state."[2] It functions in accordance with the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia and is advised by the Consultative Assembly.[3] Legislation must be ratified by a royal decree. It meets every Tuesday and is chaired by the crown prince in his capacity as Prime Minister or one of his deputies.[4][5] It is the final authority for financial, executive and administrative matters. Its resolutions are non-binding unless agreed upon by a majority vote. In case of a tie, the Prime Minister casts the tie-breaking vote. The present law governing the form and function of the Council of Ministers was issued by King Fahd in 1993.[2] Among others, it stipulates that every member of the Council must be "a Saudi national by birth and descent; well-known for righteousness and capability;" and "not previously convicted for a crime of immorality or dishonor."[2]

In the early hours of 29 April 2015, King Salman issued 25 royal decrees which included a cabinet reshuffle. This included the removal of his brother Muqrin bin Abdulaziz as Crown Prince and appointment of his nephew Muhammad bin Nayef. The king appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as Deputy Crown Prince.[6][7]

In another reshuffle on 21 June 2017, King Salman removed his nephew as Crown Prince and appointed his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as the new Crown Prince.[8][9]

Membership

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Current members
Office Officeholder Assumed office
Executive leadership
Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman 27 September 2022
Ministers
Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman 27 September 2022
Minister of National Guard Abdullah bin Bandar 27 December 2018
Minister of Interior Abdulaziz bin Saud 21 June 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan 23 October 2019
Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif Al-Sheikh 2 June 2018
Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan 27 September 2022
Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani 23 January 2015
Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman 8 September 2019
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources 11 July 2026
Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser 23 October 2019
Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi 7 May 2016
Minister of Investment Fahd Al-Saif [ar] 12 February 2026
Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal F. Alibrahim 3 May 2021
Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel 15 October 2021
Minister of Media Salman bin Yousuf 5 March 2023
Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan 1 November 2016
Minister of Culture Badr bin Abdullah 2 June 2018
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli 7 May 2016
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah 15 October 2021
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha 23 April 2017
Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail 25 February 2020
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi 2 June 2018
Minister of Sport Abdulaziz Al-Faisal 25 February 2020
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb 25 February 2020
Ministers of State
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir 27 December 2018
Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer Al-Sabhan 16 October 2016
Minister of State for Shura Affairs Issam bin Saad bin Saeed [ar] 14 January 2022
Minister of State Mohammad Al-Sheikh 29 January 2015
Minister of State Khalid Al-Eissa [ar] 29 April 2015
Minister of State Musaad Al-Aiban 2 August 1995
Minister of State Mansour bin Mutaib 29 January 2015 
Minister of State Saleh Al-Sheikh 2 June 2018
Minister of State Ibrahim Al-Assaf 23 October 2019
Minister of State Turki bin Mohammed 27 September 2018
Minister of State Hamad Al-Sheikh 27 September 2022
Minister of State Bandar Al-Khorayef 11 July 2026

See also

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References

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  1. "Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers". Saudipedia. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Law of the Council of Ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  3. "Council of Ministers System | The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". www.saudiembassy.net. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  4. "Biographies of Ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  5. "Saudi Arabia Government". The Saudi Network. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  6. "عام / أوامر ملكية وكالة الأنباء السعودية" [General / Royal Orders of the Saudi Press Agency]. Saudi Press Agency (in Arabic). 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  7. "عام / أوامر ملكية إضافة أولى وكالة الأنباء السعودية" [General/Royal orders, first addition, Saudi Press Agency]. Saudi Press Agency (in Arabic). 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  8. Nicole Chavez, Tamara Qiblawi and James Griffiths. "Saudi Arabia's king replaces nephew with son as heir to throne". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  9. Hubbard, Ben (21 June 2017). "Saudi King Rewrites Succession, Replacing Heir With Son, 31". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
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