Arabic
The Council of Ministers,
after perusal in its session held under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, of Royal Court File 78748 dated 2 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1445 [10 May 2024] and File 90220 dated 17 Dhu Al-Hijja 1445 [23 June 2024], which includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs Telegram 221167 dated 20 Sha’ban 1444 [12 March 2023], regarding his request for approval to restructure the committee concerned with studying applications for nomination for international awards, and regarding the media reports circulating about the selection of a number of Saudi personalities to join international organizations, their winning of international awards, and the media coverage of this,
after perusal of Royal Order 1822/MB dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1429 [11 March 2008], Royal Order 3610/MB dated 27 Rabi Al-Thani 1429 [3 May 2008], Royal Order 462/MB dated 22 Muharram 1432 [28 December 2010], and Royal Order 54830 dated 11 Sha’ban 1444 [3 March 2023],
after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 3451 dated 11 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1444 [31 May 2023], Memo 1642 dated 9 Jumada Al-Awwal 1445 [23 November 2023], Memo 2659 dated 20 Rajab 1445 [1 February 2024], Memo 3705 dated 23 Shawwal 1445 [2 May 2024], Memo 4340 dated 24 Dhu Al-Hijja 1445 [30 June 2024], Memo 1017 dated 23 Rabi Al-Awwal 1446 [26 September 2024], Memo 3988 dated 5 Dhu Al-Hijja 1446 [1 June 2025], Memo 3199 dated 13 Ramadan 1447 [2 March 2026], and Memo 3830 dated 16 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1447 [3 May 2026],
after perusal of Secretariat of the Political and Security Affairs Council Telegram 5153 dated 5 Rabi Al-Thani 1447 [27 September 2025],
after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Recommendation 21-42/47/I dated 14 Shawwal 1447 [2 April 2026],
and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 13382 dated 22 Dhu Al-Hijja 1447 [8 June 2026],
hereby decides
First
The Organizational Arrangements of the Standing Committee for Nomination for International Awards, Receiving International Certificates, Joining Non-Governmental Memberships in International Organizations, and Obtaining Honorary Memberships in Those Organizations is hereby approved in accordance with the following:
1. A standing committee is formed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the name “Standing Committee for Nomination for International Awards, Receiving International Certificates, Joining Non-Governmental Memberships in International Organizations, and Obtaining Honorary Memberships in Those Organizations” (hereinafter referred to as the standing committee), and the ministry shall supervise its work.
2. The standing committee is formed under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the membership of competent representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Media, and the Ministry of Economy and Planning; from the Presidency of State Security and the Presidency of General Intelligence; and from the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, the Center for Communication and Knowledge Foresight, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, and the Federation of Saudi Chambers.
The committee may invite whomever it deems appropriate from the relevant entities to attend its meetings.
3. The head of the standing committee must have a job grade not less than the 14th grade or its equivalent, and a member of the committee must have a job grade not less than the 12th grade or its equivalent.
4. Without prejudice to the relevant legal provisions, including the mandates of the relevant entities, the standing committee aims to enhance the image of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the international community by governing and organizing the processes of nominating governmental and non-governmental entities and individuals for international awards, receiving international certificates, joining of non-governmental entities and individuals to non-governmental memberships in international organizations, and obtaining honorary memberships in those organizations, and ensuring the nomination of entities of all kinds and distinguished Saudi personnel of all categories to obtain regional and international awards and certificates in various fields. It has the following mandates:
(a) Setting and developing public policies and governance frameworks related to its business, in order to achieve its objective.
(b) Establishing criteria to determine the following:
1. The types of international awards and international certificates and their fields, and the international organizations whose awards are nominated for and whose certificates are obtained.
2. The international organizations to which joining is nominated, or in which honorary memberships are obtained.
(c) Building information databases that include international awards, international certificates, international organizations and honorary memberships, feeding and updating them periodically, and making them available to governmental and non-governmental entities and individuals in accordance with the requirements it sets for this purpose.
(d) Communicating and coordinating with governmental and non-governmental entities and individuals with competence and expertise to monitor and identify international awards, international certificates, and memberships in international organizations for which it is possible to be nominated.
(e) Evaluating international awards, international certificates, and memberships in international organizations, as well as the individuals or organizations in charge of them, and verifying their orientations, policies, and the extent to which they are compatible with the foreign policies of the Kingdom.
(f) Announcing, through platforms designated for this purpose, the times of nomination for international awards, international certificates, and non-governmental memberships in international organizations, and setting the appropriate mechanisms for publishing them.
(g) Setting the main conditions, criteria, and requirements for participation and nomination for international awards, international certificates, and non-governmental memberships in international organizations, and working to update them and ensure their implementation.
(h) Reviewing applications for nomination for international awards, international certificates, and non-governmental memberships in international organizations received by the committee through the representations of the Kingdom abroad or from governmental or non-governmental entities or individuals.
(i) Examining the eligibility of candidates to participate in international awards and international certificates, as well as the eligibility of candidates to join non-governmental memberships in international organizations and to obtain honorary memberships in them, and obtaining the necessary approvals after coordination and follow-up with the relevant government entities.
(j) Coordinating, within the framework of its mandates, with foreign representations in the Kingdom and with international bodies and organizations abroad, through official channels in accordance with the applicable procedures.
(k) Communicating with the entities granting or supervising the awards and certificates—in accordance with the procedures followed—regarding the completion of the nomination requirements.
(l) Drawing lessons learned from the nomination processes, analyzing the reasons for not winning, and developing appropriate solutions to overcome them in other nomination processes.
(m) Setting the appropriate mechanisms to support and publicize the candidates, creating the media context for the award, highlighting the award and certificate ceremony, and obtaining non-governmental memberships in international organizations, in coordination with the relevant government entities.
(n) Forming specialised technical committees to accomplish certain tasks.
(o) Expressing an opinion on matters presented to it regarding awards and certificates of all kinds, and regarding non-governmental memberships in international organizations.
(p) Coordinating with the relevant entities regarding the nature of the award and certificate, and taking their views on them.
5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall prepare an office for the standing committee, which must be provided with the personnel and the human, technical, and other capabilities necessary to carry out the tasks assigned to it, in accordance with the established procedures. The financial and employment impact of this must be covered by the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in accordance with the vacant positions it has.
6. The standing committee shall submit the results of its work, recommendations, needs, and any obstacles it faces during the course of its work to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the necessary action to be taken.
7. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall evaluate the work of the standing committee three years after the date of this decision, and shall submit what it deems appropriate in this regard.
Second
The committee referred to in clause First(1) of this decision hereby replaces the committee formed by Royal Order 1822/MB dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1429 [11 March 2008], whose tasks, working mechanism, and financial and administrative arrangements are set out in Royal Order 462/MB dated 22 Muharram 1432 [28 December 2010], which is chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with Royal Order 3610/MB dated 27 Rabi Al-Thani 1429 [3 May 2008], and which is concerned with studying the participation of the Kingdom (government entities—private institutions—individuals) in applying for certain international awards.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 15 Muharram 1448
Corresponding to: 30 June 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5172 issued on 17 July 2026.
