Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ruwais has been the governor of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) since December 2015, and is deputy chairman of the board. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced on Thursday that is to name its largest hall, in Geneva, after Saudi Arabia, in recognition of the Kingdom’s support for the UN agency since it became a member state in 1949, and through its membership of the ITU’s board of directors since 1965. Saudi Arabia will continue to work with the international community to improve for improvements in the sector in a manner consistent with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms, he added. Al-Ruwais attained a bachelor’s degree from King Saud University in Riyadh, a master’s from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in the US, all in communications engineering. He was a professor in telecommunications engineering at King Saud University, and the dean of the faculty of engineering at the same university, before becoming the university’s vice president. He has considerable experience in engineering and planning telecommunications networks having previously been an adviser for a number of public and private sector institutions. CITC was founded in 2001 and has its headquarters in Riyadh. The CITC’s vision statement is: “Advance the communications and information technology sector through regulation to achieve a highly competitive environment for the provision of superior services to end users and an attractive ecosystem for investors.”
FaceOf: Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ruwais, governor of Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission
FaceOf: Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ruwais, governor of Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission
- Al-Ruwais attained a bachelor’s degree from King Saud University in Riyadh, a master’s from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in the US
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2025 edition of Jeddah Book Fair attracts more than 650,000 visitors
- Held from December 11 to 20 under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair featured more than 1,000 publishing houses and cultural agencies from 24 countries
JEDDAH: The 2025 edition Jeddah Book Fair concluded on Saturday after 10 days of cultural activities, drawing more than 650,000 visitors and reinforcing its growing role in Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape.
Held from December 11 to 20 under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair featured more than 1,000 publishing houses and cultural agencies from 24 countries, spread across over 400 booths and offering around 195,000 book titles.
The CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, Abdul Latif Al-Wasel, said the event reflected the Kingdom’s evolving cultural vision and marked an important step in the development of the publishing sector and the promotion of intellectual awareness.
This year’s edition saw an expanded programme of more than 176 cultural activities, including seminars, workshops and book signings, catering to a wide range of age groups and interests.
A dedicated children’s zone attracted strong family attendance, offering educational and interactive experiences aimed at nurturing creativity and learning.
For the first time, the fair also included screenings of Saudi films as part of its cultural programme, linking literature with visual storytelling and highlighting local creative talent.
The event made use of enhanced digital infrastructure, including electronic ticketing and interactive maps, to improve accessibility and the overall visitor experience.
The Jeddah Book Fair forms part of the Saudi Book Fairs Initiative, one of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission’s flagship programmes under its 2020–2025 strategy to support the publishing industry, enrich cultural life and contribute to national economic growth.
