All event speeches will be posted on this site on or after the KAUST Inauguration Ceremony, which was held on September 23, 2009, as they become available. Biographical information is listed below for each speaker.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was proclaimed the sixth King of Saudi Arabia on August 1, 2005. King Abdullah, the founder of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, is also Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers and Commander of the National Guard.
> Read King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's speech
H.E. Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi
Chairman, KAUST Board of Trustees
His Excellency Minister Al-Naimi has been minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources since August 1995. Mr. Al-Naimi has been involved with KAUST since its inception in 2006.
> Read H.E. Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi's speech
H.E. Minister Khalid bin Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Anqari
Minister, Ministry of Higher Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
His Excellency Minister Al-Anqari has been minister of Higher Education since August 1993.
> Read H.E. Minister Khalid bin Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Anqari speech
Professor Choon Fong Shih
President
Professor Shih has served as Founding President and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at KAUST since December 1, 2008. Previously, he was president and vice-chancellor of National University of Singapore.
> Read Professor Choon Fong Shih's biography
> Read Professor Choon Fong Shih's speech "A Living Gift"