Al-Gosaibi, who served as labor minister until his death, was known as both a technocrat who served four kings and an author of numerous novels and nonfiction works, in addition to his poetry.

Before becoming the minister of labor in 2004, Al-Gosaibi held portfolio of Water and Electricity and was Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland. He was also a famous poet and novelist. Some his works were controversial, including a collection of poetry called “A Battle Without a Flag” and a novel called “Shuqat Al-Hurriyyah (The Apartment of Freedom), which were banned until recently.

He was born in Hofuf on March 3, 1940 to a prominent and wealthy family of traders. Al-Gosaibi earned a law degree at the University of Cairo in 1961, a master at the University of Southern California in 1964, and a doctorate of law at the University of London in 1970.

He was Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain from 1984 to 1992, and then to Britain from 1992-2002. He was respected by Saudi progressives for his boldness in pointing out the problems of conservative Saudi society.