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A royal decree issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on August 13, 2026, ordered the reshuffle of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Saudi Gazette reported that the decree came after a review of the Basic Law of Governance from 1412 AH as well as earlier royal orders on cabinet formation. The publication added that the step aligns with Article 9 of the Council of Ministers Law, which caps a cabinet’s term at four years unless a royal decree provides for earlier dissolution. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has held the chairmanship since his appointment as prime minister in 2022, a Saudi Gazette review of prior decrees indicated.
The decree maintained all sitting ministers in their existing roles, ensuring continuity across government portfolios at a time when the kingdom pursues long-term economic diversification goals. Saudi Gazette detailed that the formal renewal prevents any lapse in the legal framework governing executive authority. This approach has been used in previous cycles to reaffirm the structure established under the monarchy’s governance system, the newspaper noted in its coverage of the announcement.
Specific adjustments accompanied the broader retention of the cabinet lineup. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister, received an additional appointment as chairman of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, relieving Bandar Alkhorayef of that responsibility, according to the royal decree cited by Saudi Gazette. In a separate move covered by the same outlet, Mazen Al-Sudairi was named chairman of the Capital Market Authority with ministerial rank, replacing Mohammed Al-Quwaiz. These changes reflect ongoing efforts to align regulatory bodies with national development priorities.
The Capital Market Authority oversees Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul exchange, which has expanded its listings and market capitalization in recent years under the kingdom’s financial sector reform agenda. Saudi Gazette placed the appointments within the context of the cabinet’s statutory four-year cycle, noting that such decrees have periodically refreshed leadership in key economic regulators without disrupting overall policy direction. The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority plays a central role in promoting domestic industry participation in public contracts, a pillar of the national economic strategy since its establishment.
Saudi Press Agency has traditionally disseminated these royal orders, providing the official channel through which the decrees reach government institutions and the public. The August 13 announcement follows a pattern seen in earlier years where the king issues directives to either reconstitute or confirm the council’s composition. Saudi Gazette indicated that the latest decree ensures full adherence to the legal term provisions while allowing targeted personnel moves in specialized authorities.
Historical precedents show that cabinet formations and adjustments have occurred at regular intervals since the Council of Ministers was first created in 1953, according to records maintained by official Saudi sources. The current arrangement under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as chairman builds on reforms that consolidated decision-making authority in support of Vision 2030 initiatives. Saudi Gazette’s account of the decree emphasized the procedural nature of the reshuffle while highlighting the specific authority appointments as the primary substantive updates.
