FaceOf: Turki Al-Alshaikh, Saudi General Sports Authority chairman

Turki bin Abdel Muhsin Al-Alshaikh
Updated 11 June 2018
Follow

FaceOf: Turki Al-Alshaikh, Saudi General Sports Authority chairman

Turki bin Abdel Muhsin Al-Alshaikh is the chairman of the board of directors of Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority (GSA), Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and Union of Arab Football Associations.

He is also an adviser to the royal court with the rank of minister. 

Al-Alshaikh was born in Riyadh in 1981. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Security Sciences from King Fahad Security College. He graduated in 2001.

He started his career in the government sector by joining working the Interior Ministry where he reached the rank of a captain. Then he worked in the Emirate of Riyadh for two years, after that he moved to the office of the prince of Riyadh. He also worked in the office of the defense minister and the crown prince for three years.

In January 2015, he was appointed an adviser to the royal court, and in June 2017, a royal decree was issued to promote him to be a royal advisor with the rank of minister. In September 2017, he was chosen to head GSA. 

Al-Alshaikh was named the most influential Arab sports personality of the year 2017 at the 12th Dubai International Sports Conference.

Since Al-Alshaikh’s appointment as the GSA chief, the sports authority has launched a series of notable initiatives, which include providing financial support to the Saudi national clubs, formation of a technical committee for the development of Saudi football and to ensure that national talents find proper opportunities, and building a strong relations with continental and international sports associations. 

Al-Alshaikh also signed a number of deals to host important sports events in Saudi Arabia, such as the recent contact with the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) to hold wrestling events in the country for the next 10 years. 

Al-Alshaikh is also a poet and a songwriter. 


Saudi, Ireland foreign ministers discuss Gaza developments in BrusselsSaudi, Ireland foreign ministers discuss Gaza developments in Brussels

Updated 9 sec ago
Follow

Saudi, Ireland foreign ministers discuss Gaza developments in BrusselsSaudi, Ireland foreign ministers discuss Gaza developments in Brussels

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday met his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin in the Belgian capital, Brussels, to discuss developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and the efforts made to solve the conflict.

During the meeting, they also discussed bilateral relations between their two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of a meeting of the ministerial committee, headed by Prince Faisal, which was assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

It also comes a day before Ireland, along with Spain and Norway, plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state.


Saudi industry minister begins official trip to Netherlands

Updated 18 min 4 sec ago
Follow

Saudi industry minister begins official trip to Netherlands

  • Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef’s visit seeks to strengthen ties in industrial, mining sectors

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef traveled to the Netherlands on Monday for an official visit with the objective of strengthening cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The visit aims to explore and expand joint investment opportunities between the two countries.
Alkhorayef is scheduled to meet with several Dutch ministers and senior government officials, along with key leaders from the private sector, to discuss collaboration in the industrial and mining sectors.
The minister’s itinerary will also include several visits to Dutch factories and companies operating within these sectors with the hopes of fostering collaborative ventures between private sector entities in both countries.
The visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying its economy and strengthening international ties, SPA added.
In 2023, the Kingdom’s non-oil exports to the Netherlands were valued at about SR2.6 billion ($706 million), while its non-oil imports from the Netherlands amounted to almost SR8.5 billion.


Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘tremendous effort’ to support Palestinian cause

Updated 17 min 19 sec ago
Follow

Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘tremendous effort’ to support Palestinian cause

RIYADH: The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union has praised the “tremendous efforts of Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in supporting the Palestinian cause,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The AIPU released a final statement following the 36th Arab Parliamentary Union Conference, which ended on Monday in Algiers.

A Saudi delegation, headed by the chairman of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, took part in the conference alongside heads of parliaments and councils, and several regional and international organizations and institutions.

During its sessions, the conference discussed developments in the Palestinian issue and the current situation in the Arab region.

The statement also praised the Kingdom’s hosting of a number of Arab, Islamic and African summits to support the Palestinian cause and put an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people.

On Yemen, the statement stressed the importance of the initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom, which call for constructive dialogue to achieve sustainable peace and a comprehensive political solution.

The conference endorsed the recommendations of the political committee, “which highly praised the pivotal and leading role played by Saudi Arabia, which has never hesitated in its significant achievements, contributions, initiatives, and authentic Arab stances aimed at unifying Arab ranks and elevating the status of the Arab and Islamic nations in all international forums,” SPA said.

The conference also praised the Kingdom’s hosting of Sudanese talks in Jeddah between the two conflicting parties to consolidate a truce and reach a final ceasefire agreement to end the crisis in a way that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty and unity and enables it to restore its security and stability.


Saudi economy minister holds talks with UN, OPEC officials in Austria

Updated 28 min 18 sec ago
Follow

Saudi economy minister holds talks with UN, OPEC officials in Austria

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim on Monday met Executive Director of the UN Office in Vienna Ghada Waly in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

During the meeting, the two discussed “collaboration between the Kingdom and the UN on the Sustainable Development Goals and other topics of common interest,” the ministry said in a statement.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the minister’s visit to Austria to participate in the ninth session of the Saudi-Austrian Joint Committee.

Al-Ibrahim also met Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, president of the OPEC Fund for International Development, to explore the fund’s upcoming initiatives.

He also held talks with Austrian Minister of Labor and Economy Martin Kocher on strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, and the latest developments of joint interest.

The meetings were attended by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Austria Abdullah Tawlah.


Kuwait emir receives Saudi minister of state

Updated 50 min 46 sec ago
Follow

Kuwait emir receives Saudi minister of state

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Saudi Minister of State Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz and his accompanying delegation on Monday at Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Prince Turki conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

They reviewed the strong fraternal relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them across various fields.

The meeting was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid and dignitaries from both sides.