Mahir bin Abdulrahman Al-Gassim was recently appointed deputy minister for civil services at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD).
Al-Gassim received a bachelor’s degree with honors in system engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 2001. He also attended an executive leadership program at the Lausanne-based IMD Business School.
Al-Gassim has been undersecretary of HRSD for international affairs since April 2019. He is currently chairing the board of directors of Holoul Company, a semi-government and subsidiary of Takamol Holding.
Al-Gassim, who recently joined the board of directors at the Institute of Public Administration, has also been a board member of the National Competitiveness Center since 2019.
In addition, he is a member of several government committees. Before joining HRSD, he participated in a group of administrative boards of private companies.
Al-Gassim has more than 20 years of experience in several sectors, including manufacturing, development and information technology in leading local and global companies. One such company was IBM, where he served as a sales leader from 2009 to 2011 before he became a country manager for over five years beginning in 2014.
He also worked for the Advanced Electronics Company as an associate design engineer from 2001 to 2002 and later as a business development engineer from 2002 to 2005.
Al-Gassim also worked for Microsoft for nearly a year beginning in June 2008.
Who’s Who: Mahir bin Abdulrahman Al-Gassim, deputy minister for civil services at the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
https://arab.news/rtwy9
Who’s Who: Mahir bin Abdulrahman Al-Gassim, deputy minister for civil services at the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah
- The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.
He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.
They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.
Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”
He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.
The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.
According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.
The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.
It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.
Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.
The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.
