FaceOf: Turki Al-Hokail, CEO of KSA's National Center for Privatization

Updated 27 April 2018
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FaceOf: Turki Al-Hokail, CEO of KSA's National Center for Privatization

  • He is a board member of the Saudi Aviation Holding Co.
  • Al-Hokail regularly contributes articles to the international and local press, is a frequent commentator on TV

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) approved a privatization program that aims to increase job opportunities for Saudi nationals, attract technologies and innovations, and support the country’s economy.

The National Center for Privatization (NCP), the body responsible for implementing the big state sell-off program, released details of its privatization plan after proposals were signed to transfer ports, hospitals, desalination plants, schools and sports clubs to the private sector. 

Turki Al-Hokail is the CEO and a board member of the NCP, reporting directly to CEDA and leading Vision 2030’s privatization goals and program. 

He is a board member of the Saudi Aviation Holding Co., a board member of the General Authority of Customs and a member of the International Association for Energy Economics. Prior to that, Al-Hokail served as an assistant deputy minister of Commerce and Investment for Foreign Trade. 

He also served as a senior economic adviser at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, as a senior adviser to the Supreme Economic Council at the Royal Court, a consultant at the World Bank, a senior manager of the Economic Research Studies Department of the MENA region at Banque Saudi Fransi and affiliate of Crédit Agricole CIB, and manager of the Economic Studies Department at the Saudi British Bank (SABB), an affiliate of HSBC Holdings Plc.

Al-Hokail regularly contributes articles to the international and local press, is a frequent commentator on TV and a regular participant in trade and economic conferences. He has published more than 150 reports on Saudi and regional economies in trade issues, business confidence indices and real estate/housing indices. 

He is a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University. Al-Hokail gained his M.A in international commerce, economics and public policy from George Mason University. 

He holds an executive certificate in strategic transformation policies from London Business School, an executive certificate in creativity and innovation management from Harvard Business School, and an executive certificate in negotiation and conflict management from the US Institute of Peace.


Reconstituted Saudi IP authority’s board of directors approved 

Updated 26 December 2024
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Reconstituted Saudi IP authority’s board of directors approved 

  • Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair

RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property’s newly-reconstituted Board of Directors was approved for a three-year term, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.

In the reconstituted board, Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair. She previously served as the deputy secretary-general of the Council of Ministers and was the first Saudi woman to hold the position.

The approval includes extending the membership of Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali, Eng. Osama Al-Zamil, and Dima Al-Yahya.

Badr Al-Qadi and Dr. Mohammed Al-Otaibi join the board as new members. 

Alazzaz expressed her thanks and gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous and continuous support for the authority.

She also thanked the previous board members for their efforts and wished the new members success.

The authority’s CEO Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, said that the new formation of the board reflects the continued generous support of the leadership for the authority, wishing the Board success.


Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers

Updated 26 December 2024
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Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers

  • Storage facilities are located near the Makkah Library and Gate 64

MAKKAH: Authorities in the holy city of Makkah announced on Wednesday free luggage storage for Umrah performers.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that free storage facilities are available to the east of the Grand Mosque, near the Makkah Library, and to the west, near Gate 64.

Umrah performers must present their permits through the Nusuk app to access the facilities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Umrah performers can store bags, not loose items, weighing up to 7 kilograms for a maximum of four hours. Valuables, prohibited items, food, and medicine are not permitted. A claim ticket must be presented for retrieval.

The authority plans to extend the service to encompass all areas around the Grand Mosque to better assist visitors, the SPA added.


King Salman, Crown Prince send condolences to Azerbaijan president

Updated 26 December 2024
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King Salman, Crown Prince send condolences to Azerbaijan president

  • The King and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also extend sympathies to families of plane crash victims

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman each sent messages of condolence and sympathy to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, after the tragic crash of a passenger plane.

The King and the crown prince also extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

On Wednesday morning, the passenger plane, traveling from Azerbaijan to Russia, crashed near Aktau, western Kazakhstan, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board.

Kazakh authorities announced that 28 people had survived.


KSrelief chief meets Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 25 December 2024
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KSrelief chief meets Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and Mazen Ghoneim discussed Saudi humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians in Gaza

RIYADH: The supervisor-general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, met the Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mazen Ghoneim on Wednesday in Riyadh.

Al-Rabeeah and Ghoneim discussed Saudi humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ghoneim expressed his gratitude to KSrelief and praised its strong relationship with the Palestinian people, the SPA added.

KSrelief initiated various projects to support Palestinian hospitals and humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israeli war.

Earlier in December, KSrelief sent 20 fully equipped ambulances to boost the health sector in Gaza.

It also distributed aid and food parcels that benefited nearly 3,500 Palestinians, some of whom were displaced in the Gaza Strip.


Saudi-Qatari security, military committee meeting held in Riyadh

Updated 25 December 2024
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Saudi-Qatari security, military committee meeting held in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani chaired the second meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council’s Security and Military Committee in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas of common interest, to achieve the aspirations of the two nations’ leaders and people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Saud praised the efforts made by both sides to achieve joint initiatives.