His Excellency Majed Bin Abdullah al-Qasabi (born on January 24, 1960) is the Minister of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2016. He is a civil engineer and academic.
His upbringing and education
He was born in Jeddah Governorate, in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, where he also received his primary education. He ranked seventh in the Kingdom in the General Secondary Certificate and was an exemplary student at Thaghr Model Schools in Jeddah in 1977. He then pursued his higher education in the United States, majoring in engineering. He is married and has four children.
He obtained a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with honors from the University of Portland, USA, in 1981. He earned a Master's degree in Civil Engineering with honors from the University of Berkeley, USA, in 1982, followed by another Master's degree in Engineering Management with honors in 1983. He completed his Doctorate in Engineering Management with honors in 1985. Additionally, he received a Professional Degree certificate in 2002 from the University of Missouri, USA.
His career
During his career, al-Qasabi held a number of positions and held several ministries, as follows:
- Minister of Commerce since 2016.
- Designated Minister of Information from February 2020 - March 2023.
- He served as the Acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs (Ministry of Municipalities and Housing currently) from December 2018 until February 2020.
- He served as the Minister of Social Affairs (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development currently) from 2015 to 2016.
- Advisor at the Court of His Highness the Crown Prince 2014-2015.
- Head of Private Affairs for His Highness the Crown Prince 2011-2014.
- Adviser at the Court of His Highness the Crown Prince - excellent rank 2010-2011.
- Director General of the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation 2002- 2013.
- Secretary General of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supervisor of the implementation of the 'Jeddah Ghair' Festival, Jeddah Economic Forum 1998-2002.
- General Manager of Kara Contracting Corporation 1986-1997.
- Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, King Abdulaziz University 1987- 1998.
His memberships
He holds several memberships, including being a member of the Economic and Development Affairs Council, and the Supreme Council of Saudi Aramco, and serving as the head of the Saudi negotiating team in the World Trade Organization. He is also the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Committee for Improving Business Performance in the Private Sector.
Al-Qasabi previously served as a member of the Advisory Board for Economic Affairs at the Supreme Economic Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Ports Authority, a member of the Higher Commission for the Development of Hail Region, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Social Charity Fund, and the Chairman of the Jeddah Economic Forum.
He also served as a board member and financial supervisor at the King Salman Center for Disability Research, a board member of the Majid Bin Abdulaziz Association for Development and Social Services, a board member and financial supervisor at the Saudi Alzheimer's Disease Association, a board member and financial supervisor at the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, and a trustee of the Centennial Fund.
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