King Salman of Saudi Arabia issued a series of royal decrees on Saturday, July 11, 2026, announcing key ministerial appointments and a reshuffle of senior government positions, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Appointed Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources
Under the decrees, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was appointed as the minister of industry and mineral resources while retaining his existing role as minister of energy. This dual appointment consolidates his oversight of two critical sectors of the Saudi economy.
Former Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef was relieved of his post and appointed as a minister of state and member of the Council of Ministers. In addition, Alkhorayef was assigned to oversee the General Authority for Military Industries, replacing Ahmed Al-Ohali, who was dismissed as governor of the authority.
Other Senior Appointments and Changes
The royal decrees also relieved Shalaan bin Shalaan of his duties as deputy public prosecutor and appointed him as an adviser at the Royal Court with the rank of minister. In a separate appointment, Ihsan bin Abbas Bafaqih was named secretary of Jeddah Governorate with the rank of minister.
These changes reflect ongoing adjustments in Saudi Arabia's administrative structure under King Salman's leadership, aiming to streamline governance and align key ministries with national development goals.
