Al-Mazyad Named Vice Minister of Tourism

Abdulmohsen bin Mohammed bin Hamoud Al-Mazyad has been appointed Vice Minister of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under a royal order issued on 24 Sha'ban 1447 (12 February 2026). The appointment is at the excellent rank, in line with the Law of Ministers, Vice Ministers, and Employees of the Excellent Rank, and forms part of a wider reshuffle affecting several senior officials and ministers.

Al-Mazyad becomes the ministry's number-two official, serving under Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb. He succeeds Princess Haifa bint Mohammed bin Saud, who has been relieved of the role and reassigned as an adviser at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers with excellent rank. The order was published in the Official Gazette (Umm Al-Qura), issue 5144 dated 13 February 2026.

Prior to this appointment, Al-Mazyad served as Deputy Minister for Licensing and Classification at the Ministry of Tourism, where he oversaw licensing and classification standards for hospitality facilities including hotels, resorts, and tourism establishments, and monitored compliance with tourism law and its executive regulations. In that role he led field inspections of hospitality facilities in Makkah to ensure readiness for receiving Hajj pilgrims and to verify operational licenses and regulatory compliance.

Why it matters

The Vice Minister of Tourism role is tied directly to implementing the Kingdom's tourism strategy under رؤية السعودية 2030, including expanding tourism projects, growing visitor numbers, and strengthening regulatory oversight of the sector. For residents and visitors across الرياض, جدة, and beyond, the appointment signals continuity in the drive to develop hotels, resorts, and destinations nationwide.

In May 2026, Al-Mazyad appeared publicly in his new capacity at the inauguration of Rixos Obhur Jeddah Resort and Villas in جدة, underscoring the ministry's continued focus on hospitality investment and destination development.

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