Riyadh - SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Monday announced a major Cabinet
reshuffle, removing six ministers and appointing eight new ministers for health, higher
education, transport, agriculture, social affairs, communications and information
technology, culture and information, and Islamic affairs.
The current oil and finance ministers would remain in place. The vacant health post has
now been filled with Mohammed Alhayazie, former rector of Jazan University.
Abdul Aziz Al-Khodairy, former chief executive officer of King Abdullah Public
Education Development Project (Tatweer), takes over the vacant culture and information
post.
King Abdullah appointed Khaled Al-Sabti new higher education minister replacing Khaled
bin Mohammed Al-Anqari. Al-Sabti was the deputy minister of education.
Sulaiman Al-Humaid is the new social affairs minister, replacing Yousuf bin Ahmad Al-
Othaimeen. Al-Humaid was a member of the Shoura Council and a former governor of the
General Organization of Social Insurance.
Fahaad Al-Hamad becomes new minister of communications and information technology,
replacing Mohammed Jamil bin Ahmad Mulla. Al-Hamad was the assistant chairman of the
Shoura Council.
Abdullah Al-Muqbil is the new minister of transport replacing Jabara Al-Seraisry. Al-
Muqbil was the mayor of Riyadh.
Walid Al-Khereiji becomes agriculture minister replacing Fahd bin Abdulrahman
Balghuneim. Al-Khereiji was president of the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization.
Sulaiman Abalkhail is the new Islamic Affairs minister, replacing Saleh Al-Asheikh.
The king appointed Essam bin Saad bin Saeed a state minister in addition to his current
position as the chief of Cabinet’s Experts Commission.
In the decrees related to security commanders, the King ordered the promotion of Maj.
Gen. Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Amr, director general of the Civil Defense, to the rank of
lieutenant general, and Maj. Gen. Othman Al-Muhrij, director general of public security,
to the rank of lieutenant general