New Governors Named for NDF and CST by Royal Order

Saudi Arabia has appointed new leadership to two of its most important economic and regulatory bodies. Under royal orders issued in February 2026, Abdulaziz Al-Arifi was named Governor of the National Development Fund (NDF), while Engineer Haytham Al-Ohali was appointed Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST).

The National Development Fund serves as the state's central umbrella for development finance, coordinating and overseeing the Kingdom's sectoral development banks and funds — including those supporting housing, industry, agriculture and small and medium enterprises. Its Board of Directors is chaired by the Crown Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The appointment follows an amendment to the Fund's statute in October 2025, under which the governor is now appointed by royal order rather than by the board. The revised statute also places all Fund personnel, except the governor, under the Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.

At the CST, the royal decree issued on 12 February 2026 appointed Al-Ohali as Governor at the "Excellent Rank," succeeding Dr. Mohammed bin Saud bin Musa Al-Tamimi, who was relieved of the post by a royal order in May 2025. The Commission is the national regulator for the communications, space and technology sectors. It took on responsibility for space and adopted its current name under a Cabinet decree in November 2022, bringing communications, space and digital technology under a single regulator.

The two appointments are part of a broader 2026 reshuffle of ministers and senior officials across key economic and regulatory posts, which also included changes to the Minister of Investment and other economic policy roles. The orders concern leadership and statutory governance and do not change any fees, service prices or transactional procedures for citizens or residents.

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