Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia
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The Saudi Council of Ministers (Arabic: مجلس الوزراء السعودي Majlis al-Wuzarā’ as-Su‘ūdī) is the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is led by the King who is Prime Minister. The Council consists of the Prime Minister, the Crown Prince, who is First Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet ministers. Since 2015, there are 23 ministers with portfolio and seven ministers of state, two of whom have special responsibilities. All members of the Council are appointed by royal decree.[1]
The Council of Ministers was established by King Abdulaziz Al Saud 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."[1] Legislation must be ratified by royal decree and be found to be fully compatible with the kingdom's interpretation of Shari'a law. It meets every Monday and is chaired by the King in his capacity as Prime Minister or one of his deputies.[2][3]
The present law governing the form and function of the Council of Ministers was issued by King Fahd in 1993/1414 AH.[1] 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."[1]
In the early hours of April the 29th 2015, King Salman issued 25 royal decrees which included a cabinet reshuffle. This included the removal of Crown Prince Muqrin from his post and the placement of Prince Muhammed bin Nayef in his place, Prince Muhammed bin Salman is appointed First Deputy Crown Prince.[4][5]
Members of the Council of Ministers
| Portfolio | Minister | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | 2015 |
| First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior | Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | 2015 |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense | Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | 2015 |
| Minister of the National Guard | Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | 2013 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir | 2015 |
| Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance | Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al Ash-Shaikh | 2015 |
| Minister of Education | Azzam bin Mohammad Al Dakheel | 2015 |
| Minister of Justice | Waleed bin Mohammad Al Samaani | 2015 |
| Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources | Ali bin Ibrahim Al Naimi | 1995 |
| Minister of Transport | Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Muqbel | 2014 |
| Minister of Commerce and Industry | Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah | 2012 |
| Minister of Social Affairs | Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi | 2015 |
| Minister of Economy and Planning | Adel bin Mohammad Fakeih | 2015 |
| Minister of Health | Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Faleh | 2015 |
| Minister of Culture and Information | Adel bin Zaid Al Toraifi | 2015 |
| Minister of Labor | Mufarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani | 2015 |
| Minister of Civil Service | Khalid bin Abdullah Al Arj | 2015 |
| Minister of Finance | Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al Assaf | 1996 |
| Minister of Water and Electricity | Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Hussein | 2004 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Abdulrahman bin Abdulmuhsen Al Fadhly | 2015 |
| Minister of Hajj | Bandar bin Mohammad Al Hajjar | 2011 |
| Minister of Housing | Shwaish bin Saud AlDhwaihy | 2011 |
| Minister of Communication and Information Technology | Mohamed bin Ibrahim Al Sowail | 2015 |
| Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs | Abdullatif bin Abdulmalik Al Shaikh | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Motleb bin Abdullah Al-Nafisah | 1995 |
| Minister of State | Mohammad bin Faisal Abu Saq | 2014 |
| Minister of State | Essam bin Saad bin Saeed | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Saad bin Khalid Al Jabry | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Mohammad bin Abdulmalik Al Shaikh | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Eissa | 2015 |
| Minister of State | Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban | 1995 |
The Royal Councils
Ostensibly to streamline the workings of government and cut the Crown Prince from as much active participation as possible, King Salmon has set up two Royal Councils: The Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) under the chairmanship of Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, and the Council of Political and Security Affairs (CPSA), under the tutailage of the Deputy Crown Prince.
The membership of the PSA is composed of nine individuals, while the CEDA boasted a 22-member roster that, naturally, required a Secretariat. That task was entrusted to the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, who in early 2015 was Abdulrahman bin Mohammad Al-Sadhan, who is the highest ranking commoner in the government.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Law of the Council of Ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Biographies of Ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia Government". The Saudi Network. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ↑ http://www.spa.gov.sa/details.php?id=1355272
- ↑ http://www.spa.gov.sa/details.php?id=1355273
- ↑ http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-king-s-son-on-fast-track-to-power-1.1458739
External links
- Statements of the Council of Ministers Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Law of the Council of Ministers
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