Who is Saudi Arabia's first-ever Minister of Culture?

Prince Badr (left) pictured with American businessman and politician Mike Bloomberg (right).

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, who was appointed in April to the board of the General Culture Authority, was named Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Minister of Culture on Saturday.

Prince Badr already holds several key positions, including governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula – a post he has held since the commission was created in July last year to oversee archaeological and tourism projects in Al-Ula area of Madinah province.

He is most known for his position as the chairman of media conglomerate Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), a role he has held since December 2015. He recently resigned when he was named the culture minister.

Prince Badr is a contemporary of the 32-year-old Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The two attended King Saud University in Riyadh around the same time. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the King Saud University.

As the governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, Prince Badr helped develop two agreements with the government of France and the Arab World Institute in Paris to further develop the region as a cultural destination.

He also started a scholarship program for the students in the Madinah province and developed a partnership with the faculty of design at Harvard University to encourage innovation and scientific and archaeological publications Madinah.

As part of its social and economic reforms initiative, the Kingdom is keen on displaying its culture to the world and bridging gaps. It is also hoping to engage Saudis in participating in cultural and entertainment events at home.