Munir ElDesouki

President

A Saudi engineer and researcher, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology at ministerial rank since January 2022, and acting Governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority since March 2026. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (2002), a master's in electrical and computer engineering (2005), a master's in innovation and entrepreneurship from McMaster University in Canada (2007), and a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the same university (2010). He previously served as Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology, deputy minister for planning and development, and general supervisor of the team that established the Research, Development and Innovation Authority. Within KACST he oversaw innovation and manufacturing affairs, the Materials Science Institute and the National Nanotechnology Centre.