Ageel Alshaibani Named CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority

The board of the Saudi Tourism Authority has appointed Ageel Alshaibani as its new Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment taking effect at the start of September 2026. Official announcements set the effective date as September 2, 2026, while implementation began at the opening of the month.

Alshaibani moves into the role after serving as Deputy Minister of Tourism for Strategic Planning and Monitoring at the Ministry of Tourism, where he contributed to the National Tourism Strategy and a range of sector development projects. Earlier in his career, he was Head of Strategy at the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), and he brings more than 18 years of experience in strategic planning and related fields.

The appointment follows a leadership transition earlier in 2026, in which the Authority's previous long-serving chief executive stepped down and an interim chief executive led the organization until this permanent appointment was confirmed.

Why it matters

Tourism is a central pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plans, aimed at raising the sector's contribution to GDP, creating jobs across hospitality, travel, aviation, and entertainment, and drawing more international visitors to the Kingdom. Stable leadership at the Saudi Tourism Authority supports the continued rollout of these plans across the country.

The decision is an internal governance and leadership matter for the Authority. As of early September 2026, it carries no direct changes to service charges, fees, or procedures affecting residents, citizens, or visitors.

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