Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud
Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud (Arabic: بدر بن عبد الله بن محمد بن فرحان آل سعود Badr bin ʿAbdullāh bin Moḥammed bin Farḥān Āl Suʿūd; born 16 September 1985) is a Saudi Arabian businessman and government official who is the inaugural Saudi Arabian minister of culture. He is in charge of various key positions directly related to the execution of Saudi Vision 2030. Prior to his appointment as minister of culture, he was the chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group. He was also appointed Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate in July 2017.[1]
Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud | |
---|---|
Saudi Minister of Culture | |
Assumed office 2 June 2018 | |
Monarch | Salman |
Prime Minister | Salman Mohammed bin Salman |
Preceded by | Office established |
Governor of the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula | |
Assumed office June 2017 | |
Appointed by | King Salman |
Chairman | |
Personal details | |
Born | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 16 August 1985
Residence(s) | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Education | King Saud University |
Early life and education
Prince Bader was born on 16 September 1985.[2] He received a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University.[3]
Business career
Prince Bader began his career as a business executive and investor in the fields of energy, real estate and telecoms.[4]
From In December 2015 to June 2018,[5] Prince Bader was appointed chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), one of the largest media publishing companies in the Middle East, which subsequently expanded its operations into the United States and the United Kingdom.[6][7][8] Further developments during his tenure included a deal in September 2017 with Bloomberg to launch its first Arabic-language news service, Bloomberg Al Arabiya; followed by the acquisition of a 51% stake in the Saudi online financial news service Argaam.[9][10]
Government positions
Royal Commission for Al-Ula
In June 2017, Prince Bader was appointed as governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, a newly established body to develop the 2,000 year-old historical site of Al-Ula, in Madinah province, into a cultural attraction.[11] In April 2018 he signed an agreement with the French minister of Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian to involve French expertise in the restoration of Al-Ula over a ten-year period.[12][13]
Minister of Culture and other positions
In April 2018, Prince Bader was appointed to the board of the General Authority for Culture.[14]
On 2 June 2018, Prince Bader was appointed as Saudi Arabia's first minister of culture and stepped down as chairman of SRMG.[15][16] The ministry's mandate is to advance the cultural programs within Saudi Vision 2030.[3] In his first official statement, Prince Bader said the ministry would seek to enhance Saudi identity and would support the efforts of young people in creative fields.[17] He also chairs the Ministry of Culture’s 11 cultural commissions that cover 16 cultural sectors.[18]
In November 2019, he was appointed as Chairman of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science.[19] Additionally, Prince Bader chairs the Board of Directors for Taif Development Authority.[20]
International cultural organizations
Prince Bader holds numerous positions in international cultural organizations. He serves as a member of the Foundation Board for the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH)[21] and as a Panthera Board Member.[22] He was also elected President of the ICOM Regional Alliance of Arab countries.[23] Additionally, he chairs multiple boards, including the Saudi National Museum, the Saudi Cultural Development Fund, the Royal Arts Complex, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts.[24]
References
- "Royal Commission For AlUla, About the Governor". www.rcu.gov.sa. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Who is the new Saudi Minister of Culture?". CNN Arabic. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Who is the new Saudi culture minister and why was the ministry established?". Al Arabiya. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- David Kirkpatrick (6 December 2017). "Mystery Buyer of $450 Million 'Salvator Mundi' Was a Saudi Prince". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "FaceOf: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan, KSA's first minister of culture". Arab News. 2018-06-02. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Prince Badr SRMG chairman". Arab News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "SRMG Chairman Inaugurates New Headquarters in London". Asharq Al Awsat. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Arab News owner SRMG inaugurates office in Washington's National Press Building". Arab News. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Bloomberg and Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) Sign Agreement to Launch 'Bloomberg Al Arabiya'". Bloomberg. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "SRMG buys key stake in Saudi financial news service Argaam". Trade Arabia. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "A number of royal orders issued". Saudi Press Agency. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Riyadh, Paris Agree to Develop Al-Ula Province". Asharq Al Awsat. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- Aqeel Bukhamseen (9 April 2018). "Historic Saudi region to be developed with French partnership". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Allies of Saudi crown prince appointed to board of new culture authority". Reuters. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- Khaoula Ghanem (3 June 2018). "Saudi Arabia Has Appointed its First Minister of Culture". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- Stephen Kalin; Marwa Rashad (2 June 2018). "Saudi Arabia names businessman as labor minister, boosts culture and environment". Reuters. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr makes first official statement". Al Arabiya. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers approves 11 new cultural commissions".
- "Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan". Arab News. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Saudi culture minister to head board of directors for Taif development commission". Arab News. 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Our governance | Aliph Foundation - Protecting heritage to build peace". Aliph Foundation. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Board". Panthera. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Saudi minister named ICOM Arab president". Arab News. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Plan approved to establish Institute of Traditional Arts in Saudi Arabia". Arab News. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "Saudi Arabia Has Appointed its First Minister of Culture". Vogue Arabia. 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- "The Fund". Arabian Leopard Fund. Retrieved 2023-10-05.