Saudi Arabia restructures ministries, appoints new ministers: Royal Court

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued here on Saturday a number of royal decrees renaming and merging a number of ministries as well as announcing the creation of a commission for recreation and the other for culture.

The King also reshuffled the Cabinet to appoint new ministers.

The ministers in charge of the energy, oil, water, transport, commerce, social affairs, health and pilgrimage portfolios were relieved from their positions.

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi was relieved from his position and was replaced by Khaled Al-Falih. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah was named minister of health, Majed Al-Qassabi minister of commerce, Solayman Al-Hamdan minister of transport, Muhammad Bantan minister of Haj & Umrah.

Muhammad Al-Tuwaijri has been appointed as deputy minister of economy and planning.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry was renamed as the Ministry of Commerce and Investment. Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources was renamed as the Ministry of Energy, Industry & Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Haj renamed as the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Ministry of Agriculture renamed as the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance renamed as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.

Ministries of labor and social affairs have been merged to be named as the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

The Presidency for Meteorology and Environment has been renamed as the General Commission for Meteorology and Environmental Protection.

The General Presidency for Youth Welfare has been renamed as the General Commission for Sports.

The Commission of the Evaluation of General Education has been renamed as the Commission for Evaluating Education.The Ministry of Water and Electricity has been dissolved.

Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Fahd Al-Mubarak has been replaced by Ahmad Khulaifi.

Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaed Bin Abdul Aziz has been appointed as head of the newly renamed sports body.

Ahmad Al-Khatib has been named as head of newly formed commission for recreation.

Prince Turki Bin Muhammad Bin Saud Al-Kabeer has been named adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Prince Khaled Bin Saud Al-Saud has been made the adviser at the Royal Court.

Ahmad Al-Ajlan has been appointed as private secretary to the Crown Prince.