He was an associate professor, dean of the Faculty of Commerce and head of the department of political science at King Saud University; Director General of Saudi Railways Organization; held cabinet portfolios in health, and industry and electricity; instrumental in setting up Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC); chairman of Jubail Petrochemical Company (Sadaf) and Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet); served on Public Investment Fund, Supreme Manpower Council, and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu; ambassador to Bahrain 1984 to 1992; ambassador to United Kingdom and Ireland 1992 to 2002; Minister of Water since 2002, when the Ministry, created in 2001, became effective, and of Water and Electricity when renamed in May 2003 and Minister of Labor since April, 2004. __