Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman named industry minister

Saudi Arabia issued royal orders appointing Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as minister of industry and mineral resources, while explicitly keeping his existing role as minister of energy. The main royal order was issued on 11 July 2026.

The move places both portfolios under a single minister but does not merge the two ministries. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources remain separate entities, each retaining its own budget and organizational structure.

Under the same royal order, Bandar Alkhorayef was relieved of his post as minister of industry and mineral resources and appointed minister of state and member of the Council of Ministers. His new responsibilities include oversight of the General Authority for Military Industries.

In a related development, a subsequent royal order issued on 13 August 2026 appointed Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, adding to his responsibilities across the energy, industry and local content sectors.

What it means for residents

The appointment is an administrative and leadership change at the ministerial level. No new fees, application steps, or validity periods on major government e-services have been announced as a direct result of the appointment, and everyday procedures for residents and citizens are unaffected. Royal orders of this kind are published through official state channels as part of the standard process.

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