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.
