Turki Al al-Sheikh

Turki Bin Abdulmohsen Al al-Sheikh (born in 1981) is an advisor in the Saudi Royal Court at the rank of minister. He has been the chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority since 2018. He was previously the chairman of the General Sport Authority, which later transformed into the Ministry of Sport.

He was born on August 4, 1981, in Riyadh City. He received his general education in public schools, then studied at the King Fahd Security College, graduating in 2001 with the rank of Lieutenant. Apart from his military career, he showed a special interest in arts and football.

He held several positions throughout his career. On September 6, 2017, he was appointed the chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Sport Authority (currently the Ministry of Sport) until December 27, 2018. He was also appointed as the President of the Union of Arab Football Associations by acclamation for the period 2017-2021.However, he resigned in 2019.

Al al-Sheikh joined the Board of Directors of the Saudi Chess Federation in recognition of his efforts to develop this sport. On May 15, 2023, the Afro-Asian Chess Federation (AACA) announced his appointment as an honorary president of the federation.

On December 27, 2018, he became the chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority.Since then, the sector has witnessed a significant transformation encompassing all its aspects. Numerous local and international events were launched in the Kingdom for the first time during that period, such as Riyadh Season,as well as hosting the Around the Kingdom event,and launching the global competition for Quran and Adhan recitation, 'Otr al-Kalam'.

Turki Al al-Sheikh released his first novel titled 'Cello,' which he signed at the Riyadh International Book Fair in 2021. It was sold at a symbolic price (of USD1 or as equivalent in other currencies) in support of culture and literature in the Kingdom and the world.

Turki Al al-Sheikh has received several titles and awards during his professional career, including: the title of 'Most Influential Personality in Arab Football' in 2017, the 'Arab Sports Personality of the Year' award in 2017, the 'Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award' for the Arab Sports Personality category in 2018, and the Sports Leadership Personality Oscar for 2018 from the Arab Sports Culture Union. According to the ranking of the British newspaper The Independent, Al al-Sheikh topped the list of the fifty most influential figures in the world of boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2024.