FaceOf: Ahmed Al Khateeb, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage

Ahmed Al Khateeb
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Updated 10 November 2020
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FaceOf: Ahmed Al Khateeb, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage

  • Al Khateeb also served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)

Ahmed Al Khateeb is the newly appointed president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH). 

The SCTH is making great efforts to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism hub. It has taken many measures to boost and promote tourist sites across the Kingdom.

Al Khateeb also served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), chairman of the board of directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), as well as chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). 

He has over 25 years in the financial services and investment sectors, and has particular expertise in establishing, managing and restructuring government and corporate entities. 

Al Khateeb is a former adviser to the royal court, was the minister of health between 2014 and 2016, and served as the chairman for the Saudi stock company established in 2006, Jadwa Investment.

Al Khateeb has 23 years of experience in banking. In 1992, he joined Riyad Bank, working in various departments for 11 years and helping to establish the customer investment department. 

In 2003, Al Khateeb joined Saudi British Bank (SABB) and participated in the establishment of Islamic Banking (Amanah). He then became the bank’s general manager.

Al Khateeb received his BA in business administration from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, and subsequently a diploma in wealth management from Dalhousie University in Canada. 


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.