Born: 1940, in Hasa
Education: Law degree, Cairo University 1961; studied international relations for MA at University of South California 1964, and for PhD at London University 1970.
Positions held:
- Associate Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and head of the department of Political Science at King Saud University
- Director General of Saudi Railways Organization
- held cabinet portfolios in health, and industry and electricity
- instrumental in setting up Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
- Chairman of Jubail Petrochemical Company (Sadaf) and Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet)
- served on Public Investment Fund, Supreme Manpower Council, and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu
- Ambassador to Bahrain 1984 to 1992
- Ambassador to United Kingdom and Ireland 1992 to 2002
- Minister of Water 2002
- Minister of Water and Electricity since May 2003 - April, 2004
- Minister of Labor since April, 2004