Saudi Arabia creates new natural resources ministry

Saudi Arabia has created a new government ministry for natural resources.

Announced on August 30 as part of a series of official decrees, the new natural resources ministry will be separate from the energy ministry.

Known as the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the first head of the new ministry was announced as Bandar al-Khorayef, a Saudi business executive.

The creation of the new ministry comes as Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of crude oil, looks to diversify its economy, particularly its energy sector. It also comes as Vision 2030 projects, aimed at transforming the nation and society in the Gulf country, continue.

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A number of other official decrees were also issued on August 30. Fahd al-Essa was named as the new head of the royal court. Awwad al-Awwad, a former information minister, was named as thehead of Saudi Arabia’s human rights commission. The new chair of Saudi Arabia’s national anti-corruption commission was named as Mazen al-Kahmous.