Who’s Who: Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi sports minister and president of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal
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Updated 23 December 2021
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Who’s Who: Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi sports minister and president of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees

Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal was recently appointed president of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees for 2021-2024.

Prince Abdulaziz is also president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and the Arab Football Federation.

Born on Jan. 4, 1983, Prince Abdulaziz is an athlete and talented entrepreneur.

He spent most of his childhood in Europe, where he pursued an active lifestyle and was introduced to motor sports at an early age.

Prince Abdulaziz also served as the vice chairman of the General Sports Authority.

He completed a bachelor’s degree in politics from King Saud University in 2003 and went on to obtain a further degree in politics from SOAS University of London in 2006.

He also studied marketing at the College of Business Administration in Jeddah from 2006 to 2010.

Additionally, he graduated from the Formula BMW Racing School in Bahrain in 2005.

Prince Abdulaziz has taken part in many motor racing events. He has won several titles, including the Porsche GT3 Championship in 2012 (first place), Toyo Tires Cup in Dubai (first place), Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, Formula BMW Bahrain, ADAC GT Masters Round, Porsche GT3 CCME (which he won 9 times), Radical Masters AUH round (second place), 24H Dubai race and other 24H Series races.

He also took part in the Gulf 12 Hours twice, placing first in 2014 and second in 2015. He has succeeded outside the Middle East, winning the first race in the FIA GT3 in Portugal in 2011.

Prince Abdulaziz is the first Saudi to have taken part in a GT3 European championship race.


Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya ‘shaping the future,’ says executive ahead of Six Flags opening

Updated 7 min 21 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya ‘shaping the future,’ says executive ahead of Six Flags opening

  • Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari underscored the Kingdom’s recent monumental achievements in alignment with Six Flags Qiddiya City’s symbolic upcoming opening, stating: “We, in Saudi Arabia do not start where others end, we start where others dream”

RIYADH: Qiddiya is “shaping the future of entire sectors,” the entertainment megaproject’s managing director said at a press conference on Monday ahead of the official opening of Six Flags on Dec. 31.

Abdullah Al-Dawood took to the podium to share his pride in Qiddiya City’s speedy progress.

Six Flags Qiddiya City Entrance. (AN Photo by Basmah Albasrawi)

“Today, Six Flags Qiddiya City is complete, and Aquaarabia is over 95 percent complete,” he said.

With doors set to open in nine days, Al-Dawood made sure to remind the audience that this milestone is only the beginning of a grander vision for Qiddiya City and the Kingdom as a whole.

Abdullah Al-Dawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company speaks at Six Flags Press Conference. (AN Photo by Basmah Albasrawi)

“What we are doing today goes beyond simply developing a project, it is about building a city and shaping the future of entire sectors. God willing, the Kingdom will be among the leading countries in the fields of entertainment, sports, culture and tourism” he said.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari underscored the Kingdom’s recent monumental achievements in alignment with Six Flags Qiddiya City’s symbolic upcoming opening, stating: “We, in Saudi Arabia do not start where others end, we start where others dream.”

En route to the park, Qiddiya executives welcomed members of the press to their grand project as mountains made way to rollercoaster views.

Qiddiya’s progress in becoming a hub for entertainment and sports is visible in the daylight as cranes and construction crew gathered to finalize building some of the most anticipated projects such as Aquaarabia, a waterpark, and golf courses in the heart of the desert.

The park is the first Six Flags outside of North America and forms part of Qiddiya Investment Co.’s flagship development.