Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Yousef Al-Benyan
Saudi Arabian business executive and Minister of Education From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan (يوسف بن عبد الله البنيان; born 20 November 1962) is a Saudi Arabian business executive and government official who has served as the kingdom’s Minister of Education since September 2022.[2][3] He previously spent 35 years at SABIC, becoming its first non-royal Vice-Chairman and CEO (2015–2022). During his tenure SABIC completed the US$69 billion sale of 70 % of its equity to Saudi Aramco in 2020 and cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 12 %, launching a circular-carbon-economy strategy.[4][5]
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (May 2025) |
_at_World_Economic_Forum_Growth_Summit_2023.png)
Recognised by Forbes Middle East’’ among the “Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East” for four consecutive years (2018–2021)[6] and as “Global Chemical Industry Leader of the Year” by ICIS (2020),[7] Al-Benyan is viewed as a transformational figure linking Saudi industry, education and Vision 2030’s human-capital targets.[8]
Remove ads
Early life and education
Al-Benyan was born in Riyadh on 20 November 1962.[9] Raised in a family that emphasised education and diligence,[10] he earned a BSc in economics from King Saud University (1984). He later completed executive-leadership programmes at IMD Business School (Switzerland) and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.[11]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Early career at SABIC (1987–2014)
After a brief period in banking, Al-Benyan joined SABIC in 1987, serving in corporate-finance and strategic-planning posts in Europe, Asia and the Americas.[12] He progressed to:
- Executive Vice-President, Corporate Finance (2008–2011)
- General Manager, SABIC Americas (2011–2013)
- EVP, Chemicals Business Unit (2013–2015).[13]
When CEO Mohamed Al-Mady resigned in February 2015, Reuters noted Al-Benyan’s elevation to acting chief executive.[14] He was confirmed permanent CEO that July.[15]
CEO and Vice-Chairman of SABIC (2015–2022)
As chief executive Al-Benyan led global expansion, including JV projects with ExxonMobil in Texas and with Sinopec in Fujian.[16] He also:
Industry leadership and board roles
- Chairman, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (2016–2022); re-elected 2019.[20][21]
- Chairman, International Council of Chemical Associations (2019–2022).[22]
- Board member, Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) (2016–2020),[23] Saudia (2015–2022)[24] and the Saudi Ports Authority (2017–2022).[25]
Al-Benyan used his GPCA chairmanship to promote innovation and regional collaboration, giving a notable interview on the subject in 2018.[26]
Remove ads
Minister of Education (2022–present)
Summarize
Perspective
Al-Benyan’s appointment by royal decree on 27 September 2022[27][28] aligned with Vision 2030’s push to link human-capital development with economic diversification.[29]
Strategic pillars
- Education reform
- Launched the National Education Development Programme (2023) to overhaul K-12 structures.[30]
- Restructured the ministry to streamline decision-making.[31]
- Issued a revised curriculum emphasising critical thinking, coding, robotics and entrepreneurship, in partnership with Google and MIT.[32][33]
- Digital transformation
- Enhanced the COVID-era Madrasati e-learning platform.[34]
- Launched the AI-driven Education Gateway cloud platform (2023).[35]
- Predicted that artificial intelligence would “revolutionise learning”.[36]
- Certified 120 000 teachers in digital-skills courses.[37]
- Private-sector collaboration
- Formed the Education – Industry Partnership Council (2023).[38]
- Created a US$1.3 billion Education Development Fund to attract investment in schools and universities.[39]
- Expanded internship and apprenticeship programmes for students.[40]
- Introduced entrepreneurship education nationwide.[41]
- Held round-tables with private-sector leaders to align curricula with labour-market needs.[42]
- International partnerships
- Signed agreements with top universities worldwide and hosted the 2023 International Conference on Education Quality in Riyadh.[43]
- Expanded the overseas-scholarship programme.[44]
Al-Benyan presented these reforms at the World Economic Forum Growth Summit 2023.[45]
Vision 2030 contribution
Al-Benyan consistently links education reform with economic diversification, arguing that developing human capital is “essential for Vision 2030”.[46][47]
Leadership style and philosophy
Commentators describe Al-Benyan’s approach as transformational, emphasising innovation, digitalisation and sustainability.[48] He has called education “the catalyst for societal progress in a rapidly evolving world”.[49]
Recognition and awards
- Forbes Middle East – “Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East” (2018–2021).[6]
- Forbes Middle East – “Top 50 Middle East Power List” (2022).[50]
- Gulf CEO of the Year (2018).[1]
- Gulf Business Awards – “CEO of the Year” (2019).[51]
- ICIS – Global Chemical Industry Leader of the Year (2020).[7]
- Petrochemical Heritage Award (2022).[52]
- Regular speaker at the World Economic Forum, G20 Education Working Group and B20 summits.[53]
Remove ads
Personal life
Al-Benyan is married with children.[54] He promotes corporate social responsibility, notably through SABIC’s ‘‘Nusaned’’ initiative, which has supported more than 500 Saudi SMEs.[55] In 2020 he underlined CSR’s importance in an interview with Arab News.[56] An avid reader and traveller, he launched a national reading initiative in 2023.[57]
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads