Saud al-Qahtani
Saud al-Qahtani | |
|---|---|
| General Supervisor of the Center for Studies and Media Affairs | |
| In office 2012–2019 | |
| Monarchs | Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 7, 1978 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Education | King Saud University Naif Arab University for Security Sciences |
| Known for | Saudi royal court advisor Alleged involvement in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Saudi Arabia |
| Branch/service | Royal Saudi Air Force |
| Rank | Sergeant |
Saud bin Abdullah al-Qahtani (born July 7, 1978) is a Saudi Arabian consultant and former royal court advisor. Prior to his dismissal in late 2018, he worked as an advisor to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He reportedly oversaw the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, among other interrogations and torture. It was after Khashoggi's assassination that he was dismissed. In December, Turkish officials issued a warrant for his arrest for the murder of Khashoggi. On November 15, 2018, he was sanctioned as a Specially Designated National under GLOMAG by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. As of March 2019 he is reportedly under house arrest. In April 2019, as a response to Khashoggi's murder, the United States Department of State sanctioned al-Qahtani and 15 others, banning them from entering the United States.
Described as a "nationalist ideologue", al-Qahtani served as a major influence over Mohammed bin Salman's foreign and domestic policies. Prior to his dismissal, his official post was General Supervisor of the Center for Studies and Media Affairs.