FaceOf: Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Saudi deputy minister of culture

With his extensive work experience in the private sector, Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez is expected to inject creative ideas into the government service. (Supplied photo)
Updated 28 July 2018
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FaceOf: Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Saudi deputy minister of culture

  • Since the beginning of his career, he has worked in a number of leading international and local financial institutions

Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez is the new Saudi deputy minister of culture.He was appointed by royal decree issued on Friday.

Fayez has been the head of Retail Banking Group at The National Commercial Bank (NCB) since August 2013 and serves as its executive vice president. He also serves as head of asset management at National Commercial Bank Capital, Private Equity. And he has been a non-executive director at Al-Ahli Takaful Co. since July 17, 2018. 

Fayez is responsible for growing the range of local Saudi, regional and international asset management services that NCBC offers its clients, as well as expanding its money market and global fixed income businesses. 

Before joining NCB in 2013, he served as a chief executive officer at Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia. 

Fayez graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. He had a double major in mathematical sciences and economics and a minor in business and entrepreneurship. 

Since the beginning of his career, he has worked in a number of leading international and local financial institutions, including Credit Suisse Investment banking company, and Merrill Lynch Bank. 

In addition to his main job, he has worked on a number of committees and boards of directors, including the Technical Cooperation Program in the UK and the UAE, the Saudi Media Systems in Riyadh, and the NCB Capital’s Investment Management Company in Dublin, Ireland.

On June 2, 2018, King Salman announced the creation of a new Culture Ministry. The governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al-Saud, was appointed as its new minister.

For decades Saudi Arabia has combined its culture and information ministries. The Ministry of Culture and Information was renamed the Ministry of Media.

 

 


Saudi Arabia highlights responsible leadership at AI Impact Summit in India

Updated 20 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia highlights responsible leadership at AI Impact Summit in India

  • Kingdom among more than 70 countries at event discussing cooperation over artificial intelligence

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, participated in a high-level session on harnessing the latest technology for people and the planet during the AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by India. 

The summit brought together representatives from more than 70 countries and 25 international organizations, alongside senior policymakers and technology experts, to discuss the transformative potential of AI and the importance of global cooperation. 

The Saudi delegation was led by SDAIA President Abdullah Alghamdi and included Saudi Ambassador to India Haitham Al-Maliki, as well as officials from relevant government entities. 

The session focused on launching a global network of specialized AI scientific institutions, accelerating research and innovation through advanced technologies, strengthening collaboration among governments and research bodies, and promoting the use of AI to address pressing global challenges. Discussions also focused on leveraging AI to advance the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Abdulrahman Habib, deputy chief strategy officer at SDAIA, stressed the importance of unifying international efforts to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI. He highlighted the need for AI development to deliver sustainable and positive outcomes for societies and economies worldwide. 

Habib also outlined Saudi initiatives, noting the Kingdom’s progress in establishing regulatory frameworks and national policies that balance innovation with effective governance of emerging technologies. He pointed to applied AI models that have improved quality of life, enhanced the efficiency of government services, and contributed to environmental sustainability. 

SDAIA’s participation in the summit reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the global AI agenda and strengthening its presence in international technology forums. The engagement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and innovation at the core of the Kingdom’s long-term development strategy.