King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Stanford University; University of Michigan.
He served as the minister of agriculture between May 2003 and December 2014. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1975 and a master"s degree in construction, engineering and management from Stanford University in 1978. He also received a Doctor of Philosophy in transportation engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984.
Balghunaim served as the deputy agriculture minister responsible for fisheries for one year (1990-1991).
Then he was named as governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) in 1991. His tenure lasted until 2001.
Balghunaim was appointed minister of agriculture in May 2003. He served in the post until 8 December 2014 when Walid bin Abdulkarim First Rate (at Lloyd's) Khuraiji replaced him in the post.
He became a member of the Shoura Council in 2001. He served as a member of the services, public facilities and environment committee in the council until 2003.