Ali Alwabel appointed as the spokesperson for Government Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority

Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) has signed a framework agreement with the new national airline "Riyadh Air" to join and activate its services through the unified framework agreement for government ERCAB in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the National Center for Government Resource Systems. This step will contribute to expanding the options available to government entities and ERCAB service beneficiaries through Etimad platform, as well as enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of government travel services.  The joining and activation of Riyadh Air will further enhance competition among national carriers, alongside the existing carriers under the agreement, Saudia Airline and Flyadeal. This will contribute to increasing seat capacity, offering a broader network of destinations, a wider range of flight schedules, in addition to enhancing booking flexibility and providing different packages of services that serve diverse needs of public sector employees and government ERCAB beneficiaries.  Etimad platform is in the process of automating and facilitating the entire government travel procedures through government ERCAB service, from creating ERCAB orders to booking and electronically issuing travel tickets, through an integrated digital experience that ensures raising operational efficiency and enhancing customer experience.  Unified procurement framework agreements is one of EXPRO'S contracting methods on behalf of government entities, in its capacity as competent authority of unified strategic procurement in Government Tenders and Procurement Law, which is a unified agreement with one or more service providers with the aim of achieving the best value for public money, enhancing government spending, saving time spent in the purchasing process, as well as unifying the prices of products and services provided to government entities, improving its quality and standardizing its specifications.  It is worth noting that EXPRO has recently signed an agreement with Flynas to join the Unified Framework Agreement for Government ERCAB and will subsequently announce the activation of its services. EXPRO will continue to diversify the suppliers and add new carriers to the unified framework agreement for government ERCAB with the aim of leveling up the flexibility and efficiency of government travel services and meeting the needs of government entities and ERCAB beneficiaries.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance, Mohammed bin Abdullah Aljadaan, has approved seven contracting, procurement, and quantity controls as part of ongoing efforts to develop the government procurement ecosystem, enhance spending efficiency, and strengthen governance and compliance in contracting and procurement processes. The controls are intended to help achieve the best value for public funds and improve the quality of government services. The Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) develops the Contracting, Procurement, and Quantity Controls, which serve as specialized regulatory documents for specific government procurement services. Government entities subject to the Government Tenders and Procurement Law are required to rely on these controls when preparing RFPs documents, thereby ensuring standardized procurement practices and strengthening compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The controls aim to provide government entities with a unified framework and technical standards that support the accurate identification of actual procurement needs, improve planning and procurement efficiency, and enhance the quality of tender documents. They also contribute to improving spending efficiency and reducing the time required to prepare the RFPs by providing a unified technical and regulatory reference that supports government entities throughout the procurement and contracting lifecycle.The approved controls cover the following categories: catering services for military and security sectors; city cleaning services; parks, afforestation, and irrigation services (urban areas); security guarding services; marketing services; uniforms; and furniture procurement. These controls define the technical and regulatory requirements, as well as the contracting and procurement mechanisms, to promote standardized specifications and requirements across government entities.The approval of these controls builds on ongoing efforts to develop the enablers, policies, and regulatory tools governing government procurement. This supports improved government spending efficiency, strengthens fiscal sustainability, and advances the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by adopting best practices, enhancing government performance, and maximizing the economic and developmental impact of public expenditure. To view the Contracting, Procurement, and Quantity Controls, please visit the following link: https://www.uqn.gov.sa/digital?date=2026-07-23 

The Board of Directors of the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) has issued a decision appointing Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Albesher as the Chief Executive Officer of EXPRO. Dr. Albesher has extensive experience in strategies, business development, financial management, digital transformation, and project management within both government and private entities. His previous roles include serving as the Deputy Minister for Industrial Services and Compliance at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce, and LBU General Manager for the Industrial and Commercial Sector in Saudi Arabia at the international ABB Group, which specializes in advanced energy and automation industries. This is in addition to his various other experiences across a number of organizations. He has also held memberships on numerous boards of directors and committees, including: the Board of Directors of the Real Estate General Authority, the Board of Directors of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), the Board of Directors of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), the Board of Directors of the Social Development Bank, the Board of Directors of the Council of Health Insurance, the Board of Directors of Saudi Post (SPL), the Board of Directors of the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN), the Group Housing Program for Individuals, the Industrial Customs Exemptions Committee, the standing Committee for Consumer Protection, and the Product Safety and Monitoring Committee. Throughout his career in both the public and private sectors, he has led strategic initiatives for transforming industrial policies and achieving operational excellence, aiming for sustainable growth and global competitiveness. He has also led digital transformation in service delivery, oversight, and compliance systems, as well as the governance and design of procedures. Dr. Albesher holds a master’s and a Ph.D. in Engineering Management from Brunel University London in the United Kingdom, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Saud University. He also holds numerous executive certificates in leadership, management, and governance from the Misk Leaders 2030 program and other institutes including IMD, London Business School, and INSEAD. It is noteworthy that the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority  (EXPRO) was established by a decision of the Council of Ministers on February 23, 2021, with the aim of contributing to achieving expenditure efficiency in government entities, raising the quality of projects, assets, and facilities, planning infrastructure, and overseeing programs, initiatives, and operational processes funded by the government's general budget, as well as following up on these entities' implementation of their related programs and initiatives to achieve the EXPRO's objectives.