Ministry of Commerce (Saudi Arabia)
The Ministry of Commerce (Arabic: وزارة التجارة) is a government ministry in Saudi Arabia that oversees commercial activity in the Kingdom and develops policies related to trade and the business sector.[1]
| وزارة التجارة | |
 | |
 Majid Al-Qasabi, the current Minister of Commerce since 7 May 2016 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 30, 1954 |
Preceding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Headquarters | |
Minister responsible | |
Child agency | |
| Website | Official English Website |
History
editBetween 1926 and 1954, the Merchants' Council, established by King Abdulaziz, managed commercial affairs in Saudi Arabia before being replaced by the Ministry of Commerce, created by a Royal Decree in 1954 to oversee domestic and international trade.[2]
The ministry was reorganized in 2003 and renamed the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.[3]
It was renamed the Ministry of Commerce and Investment in 2016.[4]
On 25 February 2020, following the establishment of the Ministry of Investment, the ministry’s name was changed to the Ministry of Commerce.[5]
Structure
editThe Ministry has several agencies including:[6]
- Deputy Ministry for Consumer Protection
- Deputy Ministry for Industry Affairs
- Deputy Ministry for Foreign Trade
- Deputy Ministry of Internal Trade
- Deputy Ministry for Technical Affairs
- Marketing and Communication Management
- Administrative and Financial Affairs Management
- Information Technology Management
- General Directorate for Strategic Planning and Projects
- Engineering Management
Commercial Attachés Offices
editThe Ministry also supervises commercial attachés offices worldwide with the aims of establishing and developing commercial relationships with other countries.[7] In May 2018, Saudi Arabia appointed with Samar Saleh the first woman to be a commercial attaché in Japan.[8]
List of commerce officials
edit| No. | Portrait | Official | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministers of Commerce (1954–2003) | |||||
| 1 | .svg) |
Mohammed Alireza | 2 March 1954 | 19 January 1958 | 3 years, 323 days |
| 2 | |
Ahmed Jamjoom | 19 January 1958 | 21 December 1960 | 2 years, 337 days |
| 3 | |
Ahmed Shata | 21 December 1960 | 16 March 1962 | 1 year, 85 days |
| 4 | |
Ahmed Jamjoom | 16 March 1962 | 31 October 1962 | 229 days |
| 5 | |
Abid Sheikh | 31 October 1962 | 22 September 1971 | 8 years, 326 days |
| 6 | |
Mohammed Al-Awadi | 22 September 1971 | 13 October 1975 | 4 years, 21 days |
| 7 | |
Soliman Al-Solaim | 13 October 1975 | 2 August 1995 | 19 years, 293 days |
| 8 | |
Osama Faqeeh | 2 August 1995 | 1 May 2003 | 7 years, 272 days |
| Ministers of Commerce and Industry (2003–2016) | |||||
| 1 | |
Hashim Yamani | 1 May 2003 | 3 March 2008 | 4 years, 307 days |
| 2 | |
Abdullah Alireza | 3 March 2008 | 13 December 2011 | 3 years, 285 days |
| 3 |  |
Tawfig Al-Rabiah | 13 December 2011 | 7 May 2016 | 4 years, 146 days |
| Ministers of Commerce and Investment (2016–2020) | |||||
| 1 | |
Majid Al-Qasabi | 7 May 2016 | 25 February 2020 | 3 years, 294 days |
| Ministers of Commerce (2020–present) | |||||
| 1 | |
Majid Al-Qasabi | 25 February 2020 | Incumbent | 6 years, 231 days |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Ministry of Commerce: Companies to be penalized if failed to submit financial statements by June 30". Saudi Gazette. June 15, 2025.
- ↑ "National Day / "Merchants' Council" Established by King Abdulaziz and Today Became the Ministry of Commerce and Investment". Saudi Press Agency (in Arabic). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "New Ministries, Mergers Likely in Next Month's Cabinet Reshuffle". Arab News. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "Saudi shake-up rolls on with big reshuffle of economic posts". Reuters. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Asharq Al-Awsat (25 February 2020). "Saudi Royal Decree Forms 3 New Ministries, Merges 2 Others". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ↑ Department, Knowledge Management. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Commerce and Investment". mc.gov.sa. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
- ↑ ATTACHÉS. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Commerce and Investment". mc.gov.sa. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
- ↑ "Samar Saleh: First Saudi woman to be appointed commercial attaché". Saudigazette. 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
