FaceOf: Prince Sultan bin Salman, KSA's tourism chief

Prince Sultan bin Salman
  • Prince Sultan was born in 1965 in Riyadh and is the second son to King Salman
  • Prince Sultan’s career began as a researcher in the Ministry of Information in 1982

Prince Sultan bin Salman is the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), which supervised the 12th edition of Souq Okaz.

The souq is on its second edition since King Salman handed the responsibility of handling its events to SCTH, with the aim of creating an international cultural festival. This year’s guest of honor is Egypt.

Prince Sultan was born in 1965 in Riyadh and is the second son to King Salman. He completed his school education in Riyadh, and pursued a master’s degree in social and political science with distinction from Syracuse University in 1999.

Prince Sultan’s career began as a researcher in the Ministry of Information in 1982. Two years later, he became the deputy director of the media committee for Saudi athletes competing in the 1984 Summer Olympics in LA. Later that year, he became the acting director of the TV advertising department in the ministry.

In 1985, he set a record as the youngest person to fly on a space shuttle at 28. Earlier that year, he embarked on journey to represent Arab Satellite Communications Organization in their satellite deployment where he flew as a payload specialist.

He also assisted in founding the Association of Space Explorers and sat on its executive board of directors for years.

In 2009, he became the president and chairman of the board of SCTH, with the rank of a Saudi minister. He has served as SCTH’s secretary-general since its initiation in 2000.

Prince Sultan also serves as honorary chairman of the Saudi Society for Archaeological Studies in King Saud University, and is chairman of the Advisory Committee for its tourism college.