The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has appointed Ageel Alshaibani as chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2026.
Alshaibani succeeds Fahd Hamidaddin, who served as the founding CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority from March 2020 to July 2026.
The appointment was made by STA’s Board of Directors and reflects Alshaibani’s leadership and strategic experience across several sectors, as well as his previous work within Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem.
Alshaibani previously served as deputy minister of Strategic Planning & Monitoring at the Ministry of Tourism. In that role, he contributed to the development and implementation of the National Tourism Strategy and took part in strategic initiatives aimed at developing the tourism sector and meeting its targets.
Before joining the Ministry of Tourism, he served as chief strategy officer at Misk Foundation and worked as an associate partner at McKinsey & Company.
He also held roles as advisor to the Minister of Health and director general of the Strategic Partnerships Office, with experience across public services, community enablement, healthcare and consultancy.
Alshaibani currently serves as a board member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Red Sea Authority, Jeddah Airports Company and the General Entertainment Authority. He is also chairman of the Saudi Swimming Federation and a member of the Quality of Life Program Committee.
In addition, he serves on the Supervisory Committee and the NRC of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program.
His previous contributions include work on the first wave of the Housing Program under Saudi Vision 2030. He also contributed to the implementation of the privatisation programme for a number of municipality services, including parking, cleanliness and inspections, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and sustainability.
Focus on Saudi tourism growth
Man sitting on a coral rock, Jazan | Source: Saudi Tourism Authority
Commenting on his appointment, Alshaibani thanked the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority for its trust. He said that he looks forward to continuing work to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global tourism destination.
He added that he would support STA’s efforts to attract visitors and grow the tourism sector in collaboration with its partners.
Hamidaddin’s tenure at STA
Under Hamidaddin’s tenure, Saudi Arabia welcomed 123 million visitors in 2025, surpassing its original 2030 target and prompting a revised goal of 150 million. Tourism spending reached approximately US$80 billion, while the sector contributed US$178 billion to GDP.
The period also saw new tourism assets come online, including Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia. Hamidaddin now serves on the boards of Qiddiya, Advanced Gardens Company and the Esports Foundation, while also sitting on CEDA’s Events Committee.
Credit: Arab News
