RIYADH, Jan 29 (KUNA) -- Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has ordered a cabinet reshuffle, in which the ministries of education and higher education will combine to form one Ministry of Education, local media reported on Thursday evening.
The new Cabinet sees the appointment of Khaled Al-Araj as Minister of Social Security, Adel Al-Toraifi as Minister of Culture and Information, Ahmad al-Khatib as Minister of Health, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi as Minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Walid Al-Samani as Minister of Justice and Sheikh Saleh Al Al-Sheikh as Minister of Islamic Affairs.
Governors who have been relieved of their duties are Prince Faisal bin Bandar - the Governor of Al-Qaseem Province who instead will govern Riyadh Province, and Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz - Governor of Riyadh Province.
Appointed governors are Prince Khaled bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King and Governor of Makkah Province and Prince Faisal bin Meshaal bin Saud, Governor of Al-Qaseem Province.
Others to be relieved are Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who was Secretary General of the National Security Council and Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, who was President of General Intelligence.
Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, instead, will assume the role of Advisor to the King, along with Prince Meshaal bin Abdullah bin Musaed.
Others royal advisors include Hazem Mustafa as Director of Private Affairs, while Royal Court Advisor positions were handed to each of Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Samari, Sheikh Saad bin Naser Al-Shathri, Dr. Mohammad Al-Helwa, Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Muhaisen and Fahad bin Abdullah Tunisi.
Also, Prince Mansour bin Muqrin has been appointed Advisor to the Crown Prince's Court and Khaled bin Saleh Al-Abbad, Deputy Head of Royal Ceremonies.
Other appointments include Mohammad Al-Ajjaji as Head of the Cabinet's Experts Authority, Dr. Yahya Al-Samaan as Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, Abdulaziz Al-Hawas as Secretary to the Crown Prince and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz as Deputy Minister of Petroleum.
Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammad as Head of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and Khaled Al-Muhaisin who replaces Mohammad Al-Sharif as head of the national anti-corruption authority.
Abdulrahman Al-Haseen as Head of the Audit and Investigation Authority, Mohammad Al-Jadaan as Head of the Financial Market Authority, Sulaiman Al-Hamdan who replaces Prince Fahad bin Abdullah as Head of the Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, and Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sanad who replaces Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh as Head of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice authority.
Nabil Al-Amoudi will replace Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri as Head of the General Ports Authority, while Ibrahim Al-Sultan will be appointed Secretary of the Riyadh Province, with Dr. Mohammad Al-Essa relieved of his role as member of the Council of Senior Scholars.
Meanwhile, several state bodies have been discarded, namely the Supreme Council for Education Policy, the Civil Service Council, the Supreme Authority, the Council of Higher Education and Universities and the Higher Economic Council. (end) od.sd