Riyadh – Mubasher: King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Saturday issued a number of royal decrees that involve the renaming and merging of several ministries, the reshuffling of the Cabinet as well as announcing the creation of a commission for recreation and another for culture.
The ministers for energy, oil, water, transport, commerce, social affairs, health and pilgrimage portfolios were removed, according to state television.
The King relieved the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi and replaced him with Khaled Al-Falih.
Meanwhile, 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.
King Salman also replaced the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Fahd Al-Mubarak with Ahmad Khulaifi.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry was renamed the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, whereas the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources was renamed the Ministry of Energy, Industry & Mineral Resources, according to the statement.
The Ministry of Haj was renamed the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, while the Ministry of Agriculture was renamed the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Furthermore, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance was renamed the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
Finally, the ministries of labor and social affairs have been merged into the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
The Presidency for Meteorology and Environment has been renamed the General Commission for Meteorology and Environmental Protection, while the General Presidency for Youth Welfare was renamed the General Commission for Sports.
The Ministry of Water and Electricity has been dissolved, while the Commission of the Evaluation of General Education has been renamed the Commission for Evaluating Education.
Moreover, Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaed Bin Abdul Aziz has been appointed as head of the newly-renamed sports body, while Ahmad Al-Khatib has been named as head of newly-formed commission for recreation.
In the statement, Prince Turki Bin Muhammad Bin Saud Al-Kabeer has been named adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, while 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.
