Al-Ohali Named Governor of CST by Royal Order

A royal order has appointed Eng. Haytham bin Abdulrahman Al-Ohali as Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) at the “excellent” rank. Royal Order O/269 was issued on 24 Sha’ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 12 February 2026, and published in the official gazette on 13 February 2026.

CST serves as Saudi Arabia's national regulator overseeing the telecommunications, space and technology sectors, digital content platforms, and the radio-frequency spectrum. Its headquarters is located in Riyadh.

Al-Ohali is a familiar figure within the sector. He previously served as Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology from 2018, and had acted as CST's governor during 2025 before the new appointment formalized his leadership role.

Why it matters

The appointment is a leadership and organizational decision. As of August 2026, it does not introduce any new public fees, service charges, or user-transaction procedures on government platforms such as Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Najiz, Nafath, or Tawakkalna.

No new application steps, validity periods, or fees for telecom, space, or technology licenses have been tied to this appointment in publicly available regulatory texts. For residents and businesses across the Kingdom, the change reflects continuity in the leadership of the body that regulates connectivity, digital services, and emerging technology sectors that increasingly shape daily life and commerce in Saudi Arabia.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving