Ali al-Naimi

His Excellency Ali Bin Ibrahim al-Naimi (born in 1935) is the former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and one of the national administrative leaders who played a significant role in the production and management of oil operations through Saudi Aramco and the ministry.

Ali al-Naimi witnessed the significant transformations brought about by the discovery of oil in his homeland, the Kingdom. Born in 1935 in al-Rakah, a small village in the Eastern Province frequented by nomadic Bedouins in search of water, al-Naimi's early years were marked by the prevalent nomadic lifestyle. He was born just three years after the unification of the Kingdom by its Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. The young child lived with his mother in that environment. During his early years, he traveled through the desert, moving to as-Summan, northeast of Riyadh, and began tending sheep at the age of four.

Al-Naimi persisted in seeking job opportunities to support his family. He began working at around eleven or twelve years old at Aramco, earning SAR90. However, his employment was terminated after nine months following the enactment of laws prohibiting employment for individuals under eighteen. He then turned to work in three other jobs in Dhahran before returning to Aramco in December 1947 as a junior clerk. He joined al-Jabal School where he had previously started his education. In 1948, he was nominated to join the first group of Saudi employees bound for New York City, USA. Their mission was to teach Aramco personnel the Arabic language before their deployment to the Kingdom. However, he did not travel due to his young age.

Al-Naimi continued his education and showed remarkable excellence, which led to his selection in 1953 to study at the American University of Beirut, where he was among the top ten. Aramco then nominated him for another mission to study at Aleppo College. Upon his return, he pursued a career in exploration management. Al-Naimi showcased his exceptional abilities. When General Manager Scott Segar inquired, "Why do you want to become a geologist?" He responded promptly, "I want to become the president of the company." This response left Segar impressed, remarking, "Son, that's the finest answer I've ever encountered. Welcome to exploration management."

Al-Naimi traveled to the United States after missing the opportunity in the late 1940s, as part of the first batch of Saudi students dispatched by Aramco. He began his university studies in 1959 at Lehigh University in Manhattan, USA. During that period, he got married and earned a master's degree from Stanford University.

After completing his studies in the United States, al-Naimi and his family returned to Dhahran. He was appointed a geologist at the eleventh rank in the Exploration and Production Department. Later, he was transferred to the Public Relations Department in 1967. He returned once again to the Exploration and Production Department in 1968, where he worked in the Well Department in Buqayq.

The roles al-Naimi held varied, impacting his experience and commitment to work. He was appointed as the Supervisor of the Production Department in Buqayq in 1969, becoming the first Saudi to hold this position. He undertook his first task, which was to train Saudis. Then, in 1972, he was promoted to Assistant Production Manager. A year later, he became the Production Manager in the Northern Area Business Unit, becoming the third Saudi employee to reach this position.

Ali al-Naimi was eager to work and learn, thus quickly acquiring the skills that propelled him into a successful and distinguished career path. Following his return from the United States, he emerged as one of the top Saudi candidates for the position of General Manager, undergoing close scrutiny. In 1975, at the age of forty, he was promoted to the position of Production Manager in the Northern Area, overseeing eleven out of Aramco's fifteen fields. He was also selected as the Vice President for Production and Water Injection, thus becoming the second Saudi to hold the position of vice president.

Al-Naimi transitioned through various tasks and responsibilities, gradually advancing until he assumed the position of Senior Vice President for Oil Affairs in 1978. This was the highest rank achieved by a Saudi in the company.

Al-Naimi was elected a member of the Aramco Board of Directors in 1980. In November 1983, the board selected al-Naimi to be the first Saudi President of the company, and his appointment took effect on January 1, 1984.

Ali al-Naimi succeeded John Kelberer as the Chief Executive Officer after his retirement in April 1988. In November of the same year, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of a new Saudi entity called the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, commonly known as Saudi Aramco. Al-Naimi became the first Saudi to hold the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Ali al-Naimi had planned to retire at sixty, but in 1995, he was appointed Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. His appointment was extended in 2000, 2004, and 2008 due to his adept management of petroleum affairs. During his tenure, OPEC witnessed a development in performance, becoming an international economic organization independent from external influences.

Al-Naimi shifted to work on a different task in 2006 when he was assigned to oversee the establishment of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology. He assumed the role of Chairman of its Board of Trustees during that period.

Throughout his career, al-Naimi received numerous awards and honors both nationally and internationally. King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz awarded him the King Abdulaziz Sash, Second Class, in 2009, on the occasion of the inauguration of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology. He also received several honorary doctorates from:

As a testament to his journey in life and work, al-Naimi released his memoirs, "Out of the Desert: My Journey from Nomadic Bedouin to the Heart of Global Oil" in 2016 in both English and Arabic. In it, he provides a model of self-development, narrating his story from a Bedouin boy tending sheep to the president of Aramco and one of its top executives, culminating in his appointment as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.