Information Affairs Authority

The Information Affairs Authority refers to Bahrain's ministry of information.History and profileIt was formed in July 2010 by a decree of King Hamad separating the information portfolio from what was then known as the "Ministry of Culture and Information". The president of the Information Affairs Authority is appointed directly by the King of Bahrain and has the rank of a minister in the Bahrain government.The first president of the Information Affairs Authority was Fawaz bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is a member of the Al Khalifa ruling family and a cousin of King Hamad and the current prime minister of Bahrain. Fawaz's father, Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, served as Bahrain's interior minister from 1973 until 2004. Fawaz's grandfather, Khalifa bin Hamad al Khalifa, served as the director general of Bahrain's Police and Public Security Department from 1937 until 1961. Fawaz's great-grandfather Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was the ruler of Bahrain from 1932 until 1942. Prior to being appointed as president of the IAA, Fawaz served as the president of General Organisation for Youth and Sports.Prior to the creation of the IAA in 2010, the information ministry was handled by Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa under the Ministry of Culture and Information.