The Royal Court grieves the passing of Dr. Motleb Al-Nafisah, a prominent minister and legal figure, at age 88.

RIYADH, March 28, 2025 — The Saudi Royal Court announced on Thursday the passing of Dr. Motleb Al-Nafisah, Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers, at the age of 88.

A distinguished statesman with over six decades of dedicated public service, Dr. Al-Nafisah played a key role in shaping some of the Kingdom’s most crucial legal and administrative structures.

The Royal Court praised him as one of the Kingdom’s most devoted public servants, who served his religion, King, and country with the highest level of commitment.

Funeral prayers will be held after Asr on Friday at King Khalid Mosque in Riyadh.

Born in Riyadh al-Khabra in Al-Qassim Province in 1937, Dr. Al-Nafisah graduated with a law degree from Cairo University in 1962.

He later earned his master's and doctorate in law from Harvard University between 1971 and 1975, establishing himself as one of the Kingdom’s most prominent legal experts.

His notable career began in 1962 as a legal advisor at the Council of Ministers, followed by a role as Deputy Director General at the Institute of Public Administration.

After returning from the U.S., he was appointed Head of the Expert Division at the Council of Ministers — now known as the Bureau of Experts — a position he held for 20 years.

In 1995, he was appointed Minister of State and became a member of the Council of Ministers.

From 1999 to 2015, he served as Secretary-General and member of the Supreme Council for Petroleum and Minerals. In September 2022, he was reappointed as Minister of State by Royal Order.

Dr. Al-Nafisah was also a member of several key national bodies, including the Supreme Economic Council, the Civil and Military Service Councils, and various ministerial committees.

He was part of the teams responsible for drafting key laws such as the Basic Law of Governance, the Provincial System, and the Shoura Council Law.