FaceOf: Tariq bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faris, mayor of Riyadh

Updated 19 October 2018
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FaceOf: Tariq bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faris, mayor of Riyadh

  • In 1984, Al-Faris earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona in Tucson, US
  • Prior to being appointed mayor of Riyadh in February of this year, Al-Faris served as vice president of Arriyadh Development Authority

Tariq bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faris is the mayor of Riyadh and CEO of the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA). Among other responsibilities, Al-Faris is tasked with doubling efforts to achieve the Kingdom’s aspirations based on the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020 and implementing the roadmap toward Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

On Thursday, ADA and Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) signed a cooperation agreement with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the participation of Riyadh city in the “KPIs Project” within 50 cities around the world.

In 1984, Al-Faris earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona in Tucson, US. He furthered his studies in this field in 1986,  attaining his master’s degree in civil engineering. 

When he returned to Saudi Arabia in 1986 he joined ADA as a civil engineer. In 1988, he was appointed assistant director of the King Fahd Road Project and the Governance Palace Development Project. 

In 1994 Al-Faris was promoted to director of ADA’s Projects Management Department. In subsequent promotions Al-Faris became ADA’s director general of construction in 1999, and then ADA’s director general of urban facilities in 2009.

Prior to being appointed mayor of Riyadh in February of this year, Al-Faris served as vice president of ADA and as vice minister of municipal and rural affairs.


Saudi deputy health minister meets World Health Organization’s regional director

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi deputy health minister meets World Health Organization’s regional director

  • Their meeting is part of efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health and WHO

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister of health for planning and development, Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih, held talks on Tuesday with the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy.

Their meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health and the WHO, officials said, and to advance high-level dialogue on shared regional and global health priorities.

They reviewed the outcomes of the first Strategic Dialogue between Saudi Arabia and WHO, which took place in August 2024, and explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in a number of areas, including regional and international health priorities, and the development of resilient and sustainable health systems.

Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih held talks on Tuesday with the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy. (Ministry of Health)

They highlighted the importance of effective international partnerships in efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services, the Ministry of Health said.

They also discussed the ministry’s objectives for the expansion of health-investment opportunities and a strengthening of Saudi Arabia’s role in the global health arena, with the aim of reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a key international health partner, and a contributor to the shaping of global health policies, the localization of the pharmaceuticals sector, and the transfer of technology, it added.

Balkhy’s official visit to the Kingdom will conclude on Wednesday.