Prince Rakan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has been appointed governor of Diriyah Governorate at the rank of excellence, under royal orders issued on 12 February 2026 as part of a wider reshuffle of governors and senior officials.
In the same royal orders, Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Saud was relieved of his post as governor of Diriyah and appointed deputy governor of Al-Baha Region, also at the rank of excellence. Prince Rakan bin Salman succeeds him at the head of the Diriyah governorship.
Both positions fall within the regional governorship system operated under the Ministry of Interior, which oversees senior regional officials holding the formal civil-service rank described as "excellent." These are internal royal and administrative appointments rather than public-facing services.
For residents and expats, the changes carry no government fees, procedural steps, or actions required through any online platform. As of 2026, there are no publicly announced changes to the titles, ranks, or regional jurisdictions of either official beyond the February 2026 royal orders.
Diriyah continues to hold particular significance as a historic and cultural destination, and appointments at the level of its governorship reflect ongoing attention to leadership across the Kingdom's governorates and regions.
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