Dubai: Khalid Al Falih, the Chairman of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) and Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources as of May 7, was born in 1960 in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
He was raised in Dammam, the largest city in the Eastern Province located a few miles from Aramco.
Al Falih joined Saudi Aramco in 1979 and gradually held positions of increasing responsibility, allowing him to join in 1992 the Consulting Services Department (CSD). He supervised several technical units, and was appointed Coordinator of Mechanical and Civil Systems Division in 1994 and Manager of CSD in January 1995.
He served as Manager of Ras Tanura Refinery Maintenance Department in late 1995, Ras Tanura Refinery Operations Department in 1997 and Manager of Business Analysis Department in 1998.
In July 1999, he became president of Petron Corporation, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and the Philippine National Oil Company. Upon his return to Saudi Arabia in September 2000, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Study Team for Gas Ventures, until his appointment as Vice-President of Gas Ventures Development and Coordination in May 2001.
He played an instrumental role in the negotiations with the international oil companies (IOCs) and other major national oil companies (NOCs) in connection with the Kingdom’s Natural Gas Initiative.
Four joint ventures, South Rub Al Khali Company (SRAK), Luksar Energy, Sino Saudi Gas and EniRepSa Gas, were consummated between Saudi Aramco and leading IOCs, NOCs and emerging oil companies.
In early 2003, Al Falih headed a newly-formed administrative area, New Business Development and served as Exploration Vice-President since 2004 and Senior Vice-President of Gas Operations in August 2004.
When the company formed its New Business Development organisation in 2003, Al Falih was appointed as its first head. In that role, he led the development of world-scale refining and petrochemical integration projects with leading global chemical enterprises.
In October 2004, Al Falih was appointed to the Board of Directors of Saudi Aramco. He also served as chairman of the board of the South Rub Al Khali joint venture between Shell, Total and Saudi Aramco.
In November 2008, the then president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, Abdullah S. Jumah decided to retire and Khalid Al Falih, who was serving as an Executive Vice-President of Operations Business Centre for Aramco, was appointed as the new President and CEO of the company effective January 1, 2009.
Al Falih is a well-known advocate for higher education in Saudi Arabia. He has served as a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
A new international, graduate-level research university that opened in 2009, KAUST focuses on research that applies science and technology to resolve global challenges and advance economic and social development.
Under Al Falih’s direction, Aramco spearheaded the construction of the university’s physical campus and organisational development. The company continues to support KAUST’s economic development mission through partnership in its Industrial Collaboration Programme.
Al Falih also continues to oversee Saudi Aramco’s partnerships with KFUPM, where he serves as a member of the university’s International Advisory Board.
Al Falih is active in many social programmes, and previously served as chairman of the Dammam City Municipal Council. His board memberships in other community-focused organisations include the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Fund for Supporting Small Business Projects for Women, and the Eastern Province Society for the Handicapped.
Al Falih holds BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1982 from Texas A & M University in College Station.
He also pursued studies for an MBA at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and earned his degree in 1991.
