Overview
Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the first Muslim Arab astronaut, having taken part in the scientific mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.[1] He is a Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the rank of minister and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit King Salman Foundation,[13] and the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit Heritage Foundation.[4]
He chaired the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency,[2] chairs the Board of Directors of King Salman Science Oasis,[8] and headed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and then the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, after having served as Secretary-General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism.[5][6][7]
Space Leadership and the Saudi Space Agency
Prince Sultan bin Salman took part in the scientific mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery as the first Muslim Arab astronaut in 1985.[1]
He chaired the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency.[2] He announced that the agency had completed all the phases of its establishment and its institutional build, and the local and international partnerships and agreements it concluded.[3] The agency was established by Royal Order No. (A/148) issued on 20/4/1440 AH, and its organisational arrangements were issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (209) on 25/4/1440 AH.[13]
Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Royal Orders
A royal order, No. (A/511), was issued on 21 Ramadan 1442 AH, corresponding to 3 May 2021, appointing Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as a Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the rank of minister, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit King Salman Foundation, a foundation that continues King Salman's charitable and humanitarian work.[13]
On the same day, royal order No. (A/512) was issued appointing His Excellency the Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency, the agency whose board Prince Sultan bin Salman had chaired.[13]
Tourism and National Heritage
Prince Sultan bin Salman held the Secretary-General post of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, and in that capacity visited the headquarters of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Jeddah.[7]
He headed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and chaired its first quarterly meeting of 1430 AH, corresponding to April 2009,[5] and he then headed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.[6]
Urban Heritage and the Heritage Foundation
Prince Sultan bin Salman founded the Charitable Heritage Foundation and chairs it; it is a national foundation that contributes to serving Saudi national heritage and Arab and Islamic heritage since its establishment in 1417 AH.[4]
He chairs the supreme committee of the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Urban Heritage; the award's Lifetime Achievement category was granted to Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Province, as announced in Rabi' al-Thani 1438 AH, corresponding to January 2017.[11]
The Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, patronised the ceremony distributing the award in its sixth cycle, second year, in 1443 AH, corresponding to May 2022, in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Salman.[12]
King Salman Science Oasis
He chairs the Board of Directors of King Salman Science Oasis, and in his own name and on behalf of the board members expressed thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the Supreme Honorary President of the oasis.[8]
Related people
- Kings of Saudi ArabiaKing Salman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudThe seventh Saudi king, Salman acceded in 2015 after serving in Riyadh, defence and the crown princeship. His reign has included Vision 2030 and administrative, economic and social changes.
- PersonPrince Mohammed bin Salman bin AbdulazizCrown Prince since 1438 AH/2017 CE and Prime Minister since 1444 AH/2022 CE, who launched Saudi Vision 2030; the first grandson of King Abdulaziz to lead the Council of Ministers.
Service of People with Disabilities
He chairs the Board of Trustees of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, and signed a cooperation agreement to fund a programme assessing the needs of higher-education students with learning difficulties.[9]
He also chairs the Board of Directors of the Association of Children with Disabilities, which sponsors the Prince Sultan bin Salman Holy Qur'an memorisation competition for children with disabilities.[10]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Prince Sultan bin Salman? A: He is Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Muslim Arab astronaut, a Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the rank of minister, and the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit Heritage Foundation.[1][4][13]
Q: What is his role in the space sector? A: He took part in the scientific mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985, chaired the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency, and announced the completion of its founding phases.[1][2][3]
Q: Which posts has he held in the tourism and heritage sector? A: The Secretary-General post of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, the chairmanship of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and the chairmanship of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.[5][6][7]
Q: Which institutions and awards are associated with him? A: He founded the Charitable Heritage Foundation and chairs it; he also chairs the supreme committee of the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Urban Heritage, the Board of Directors of King Salman Science Oasis, the Board of Trustees of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, and the Board of Directors of the Association of Children with Disabilities.[4][8][9][10][11]
Related topics
- CityRiyadh (city)Capital of Saudi Arabia and seat of the Riyadh Region emirate, beside Diriyah, home to Qasr Al-Hukm and Masmak Palace.
- RegionJeddah CityJeddah City is a Saudi city that is a gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a station through which cultures have passed. Its history spans more than 1,400 years, and it is home to Historic Jeddah, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014, alongside modern development projects, most notably the Jeddah Central Project.
- RegionMakkah RegionA western Saudi region administered from Makkah, encompassing Jeddah, Taif and other governorates, where pilgrimage, maritime trade, coastal landscapes and uplands meet.
- RegionRiyadh RegionA central Saudi administrative region encompassing the national capital and varied Najdi governorates, with connections to Diriyah, oasis settlement, government and modern economic activity.
- HistoricAt-Turaif DistrictA historic district at the heart of Diriyah, built in the mid-eighteenth century CE, seat of the First Saudi State and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010.
- MuseumSaudi National Museum: Reading History through ObjectsAn introduction to Riyadh's National Museum, its setting within the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, and the use of objects and multimedia to explore the Arabian Peninsula's past.
Sources & references
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Marking the mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Lecture on the International Day of Human Space Flight
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — The Saudi Space Agency completes its founding phases
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Annual meeting of the Non-Profit Heritage Foundation
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — First quarterly meeting of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Chairmanship of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Secretary-General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Royal patronage of King Salman Science Oasis
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Agreement of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Holy Qur'an memorisation competition for children with disabilities
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Governor of Makkah Province receives the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Urban Heritage
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Sixth cycle, second year, of the Urban Heritage Award
- Umm Al-Qura Gazette — Royal Orders (A/511) and (A/512)