Role Model of Every Saudi Businessman, Khalid Al-Falih

Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih, born in 1960, is a Saudi businessman who held various positions in the ministry and industrial companies. He is the president and chief executive officer of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), a founding member of the board of trustees of King Abdullah University of Technology, and a member of the global advisory board at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the Board of Trustees at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University. During his career, he held the presidency of many scientific, cultural, and industrial bodies. Let's get acquainted with the biography and achievements of Khalid Al-Falih.

Who is Khalid Al-Falih?

Engineer Khalid Abdul Aziz Al-Falih was born in 1960 in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to a family whose origins are from Zulfi. His father at that time worked as an employee in the materials supply department at Saudi Aramco, and he worked in the company for 47 years until his retirement age.

Khalid Al-Falih went to primary school in Riyadh, and at the end of the 1960s, his family moved to Dammam to join his father, who works for Aramco, and there he studied in two model schools for Aramco, in which he completed the primary and intermediate levels. He also studied secondary school in government schools until 1976. After high school, he joined the University of Petroleum and Minerals, which is known today as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, but after spending one year at the university, his father was assigned to Aramco's center in Houston, Texas, in the United States of America. During his summer vacation visit to him, Khalid Al-Falih got to know Texas A&M University, so he applied to join that university and was accepted to start studying there in 1979. Later, he received a scholarship from Aramco to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1982 from the same university.

Khalid’s Greatest Achievements:

In July 1999, Eng. Khalid Al-Falih assumed the position of chairman of Petron Company, a joint venture between Aramco and the Philippine National Petroleum Corporation.

In early 2003, he was appointed Vice President of Aramco for the New Business Development Sector. In this position, he oversaw the development of megaprojects such as Petro Rabigh, Sadara, SATORP, and YASREF to achieve integration between refining and petrochemical facilities in partnership with major oil, gas, and chemical companies in the world.

In April 2004, he was appointed Vice President of Exploration before being named Senior Vice President of Gas Operations in August 2004.

Al-Falih held prominent leadership positions in various departments of the company and contributed through them to advancing the continuous expansion of the company's business and its entry into new fields of work.

As Executive Vice President for Business from 2007 to 2008, Al-Falih oversaw all of the company's core businesses, including exploration and production, refining and marketing, international business, business services, engineering, and project management.

He was appointed President and CEO of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) on January 1, 2009.

Al-Falih has worked in the company for three decades, occupying prominent leadership positions in various departments of the company, and through them, he has contributed to advancing the continuous expansion of the company’s business and its entry into new areas of work.

Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih was appointed Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, according to Royal Decree No. (A /136), on May 7, 2016.

In addition to his current position, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih occupies several other positions, as he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of some institutions and bodies, namely: the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones “Modon,” the Saudi Export Development Authority, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund The Saudi Geological Survey, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy.

In addition, he has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) since April 2016.

Among the professional societies that Al-Falih is a member of are the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the International Energy Economics Association, and the Oxford University Energy Policy Forum.

Al-Falih has been known for his support of higher education in Saudi Arabia, having served since 2008 as a founding member of the Board of Trustees of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

He is also a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum (IBC), the Asian Business Council, the International Council of J. with me. Morgan, and MIT President's Advisory Board.

Al-Falih is also actively involved in many social programs and has previously held several positions, including being the head of the Dammam Metropolitan Council and a member of the board of directors of other bodies focused on community service, including the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Fund to Support Small for Women.

Khalid’s Personal Life:

Eng. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih married his wife, Mrs. Najah, in 1986, who is no less knowledgeable and diligent than him. She obtained her master’s and doctorate degrees in geography. She is now working at Dammam College of Arts. Al-Faleh has five children: two sons and three daughters, all of whom are highly educated.

Finally:

He spent more than 27 years moving up the career ladder of the largest oil company in the world, following in the footsteps of his father, who worked in the company until he became vice president. Thanks to that perseverance, Khalid Al-Falih was able to become the third Saudi to head Aramco.