FaceOf: Saud Al-Shouraim, imam and khateeb at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Imam Saud Al-Shouraim is also a renowned Qari, or a person who recites the Holy Qur'an.
Updated 17 August 2018
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FaceOf: Saud Al-Shouraim, imam and khateeb at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Saud Al-Shouraim is one of the imams and khateeb at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He was born on Jan. 19, 1966, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shouraim is a well-renowned Qari — a person who recites the Holy Qur’an — and Hafiz — a person who has memorized the Holy Qur’an. His recitations of the Holy Qur’an have been recorded and distributed internationally.

He is well-known as a researcher of Fiqh, Islamic law, and a prominent Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia. In addition, he currently serves as a judge, and has written many books on Aqidah, Fiqh, as well as Arabic poetry.

Al-Shouraim obtained a bachelor’s degree from Imam Mohammed ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh in 1988, a master’s degree from the Supreme Jurisdiction Institute of the same university in 1992, and a Ph.D. in Shariah from Umm Al-Qura University of Makkah in 1995.

He was appointed as the imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque by decree of the late King Fahd in 1991. Since 1991 he has led the Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan in Makkah.

He began work as a professor at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah in 1995, becoming the dean of the faculty of Shariah and Islamic Studies and a specialist professor in Fiqh recently.

Umm Al-Qura University is a large public Islamic university that was the only college of Shariah when it was first established in 1949, but has since been joined by other new colleges. It was renamed Umm Al-Qura University in 1981 by royal decree.

At first it was primarily offering studies in Islamic law and the Arabic language, but has since diversified and now also offers options such as marketing, technology and management.

During his Friday sermon, Al-Shouraim discussed the benefits of Hajj and the wisdom behind it.


Board of Grievances unveils judicial intelligence hackathon to foster innovation

Updated 28 December 2025
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Board of Grievances unveils judicial intelligence hackathon to foster innovation

  • Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Board of Grievances has opened registration for the Judicial Intelligence Hackathon, the institution’s first competition seeking sustainable solutions that harness cutting-edge technology to improve the efficiency of judicial procedures, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026, as part of efforts to cultivate talent and promote innovation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the judicial sector.

The board is calling on industry experts, experienced professionals, and university students to form teams of three to five members. Each team must be led by a Saudi citizen or academic staff member at least 18 years old.

Participants register via a dedicated portal on the board’s digital platform and must submit a preliminary proposal demonstrating practical and legal viability, incorporating advanced technology with appropriate quality standards, and showing innovation relevant to the board's operations with transformative impact and long-term sustainability.

Competition unfolds in two distinct tracks. The first addresses AI applications and creative solutions for administrative justice, tackling challenges such as minimizing procedural errors and offenses during virtual court proceedings and streamlining lawsuit filing classifications.

The second track emphasizes digital innovation enhancing user journeys, focusing on simplifying document submission processes when initiating lawsuits and developing accessibility solutions enabling seniors and people with disabilities to navigate board services more effectively.

Finalists are scheduled to be announced on Jan. 23, 2026, followed by virtual project discussion and presentation sessions on Jan. 28. 

According to the SPA, this methodology for sourcing innovative concepts underscores the dedication of the board’s leadership to advance performance across judicial chambers and administrative divisions while pursuing strategic goals of refining administrative court litigation processes, expediting case resolutions, and establishing competitive leadership in the judicial arena.