Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri

Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Alshehri brings more than 32 years of military and leadership experience, having held a series of senior command and operational positions within the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Appointed on August 6, 2026, he will lead the multinational coalition's naval defence to protect trade and energy routes in critical waterways. His expertise spans command and control, operational planning, and multinational military cooperation.

Alshehri holds a Master's degree in Defense Policy and International Security from the Complutense University of Madrid, as well as a Master's degree in Human Resource Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in the United States. He has also completed advanced leadership programs in Higher Strategic Leadership in the United Kingdom, Command and Staff studies at Spain's Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN), and advanced operations training in France.

Career History

• Head of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Planning, Budget and Force Development Authority
• Director of the Naval Supervision and Follow-up Office in the Kingdom of Spain
• Overseer of the Sarawat Project, involving construction of five combat ships for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces
• Secretary of the Steering Committee for the Executive Agreement between Saudi and Spanish Ministries of Defense

What Al-Shehri could bring to his role as Commander of the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance: With three decades of naval command experience, advanced international education from institutions in the U.S., Spain, UK, and France, and proven expertise in multinational defense cooperation, Al-Shehri is well-positioned to coordinate joint maritime defense operations, operational planning and coordination among member states and with other maritime coalitions. His track record overseeing major defense projects and international defense agreements positions him to effectively establish and strengthen the alliance's command structure.