JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is expected to open the fifth four-year session of the Shoura Council on Saturday.
In his keynote address, King Abdullah will elucidate Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policies and speak about his economic, social and political reform plans.
The new session of the Shoura comes two weeks after the reshuffling of the 150-member consultative body, inducting a large number of new faces including academics, economists and businessmen.
Abdullah Al-Asheikh, former minister of justice, has been appointed chairman of the new Shoura that advises the government on policy issues, foreign relations and bilateral agreements.
“We expect King Abdullah to inaugurate the next Shoura session on Saturday,” said Bandar Al-Hajjar, vice chairman of the council.
Shoura members and other government officials emphasized the significance of the king’s annual address to the Shoura, saying it would serve as a guideline for the Kingdom’s decision-makers.
The new chairman and members of the council will take oath in the presence of the king. Senior princes, Cabinet ministers, foreign ambassadors and editors in chief of Saudi newspapers and magazines will attend the opening session.
Most of the new Shoura members hold doctorate degrees from American and British universities in different subjects, including management, engineering, education, political science and law.
Prominent new members include Abdullah Alderais, former undersecretary at the Health Ministry for laboratories and blood banks; Mansour Abalkhail, former head of government accounts department at Riyad Bank; and Abdullah Al-Fayez, a former undersecretary at the governorates of Makkah and Madinah.
Saleh Al-Shoaibi, who holds a doctorate degree from Pittsburg University, is an expert in development economies while Saeed Al-Malees, who obtained a doctorate in curriculum from the University of Indiana, is an educationist.
Top businessmen Abdul Wahab Al-Mujthel, who has stakes in many companies, and Khalifa Al-Dossari, chairman of Saudi-Bahraini Business Council, are among the new members.
Other prominent members are Ali Al-Takhees, who holds a doctorate in hydrology and water resource management from University of Colorado; Abdul Aziz Al-Eissa, who holds a master’s degree in comparative jurisprudence; Mohammed Naseef, professor of geochemistry at King Abdulaziz University; and Saleh Al-Namlah, who holds a doctorate degree in political science from a US university.
Abdullah Al-Muneef, who holds a doctorate in accountancy from South Carolina University; Ibrahim Al-Juwair, who has doctorate in sociology from University of Florida; Zuhair Al-Harithy, who holds a doctorate in law from the University of Kent; Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abusak, who obtained a doctorate from the US Army War College; and Ahmed Al-Zailae, who holds a doctorate in Islamic antiquities from the University of Durham, have also been named to the new council.
