Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a royal decree appointing Fahad bin Abdulrahman bin Dahes Al-Jalajel as the new health minister, replacing the long-serving Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan bin Mohammed Al-Rabiah, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Al-Rabiah will move over to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as Minister, the decree said.
Al-Rabiah served as Minister of Health since he was appointed to that position in 2016. Before that, he served as Minister of Commerce and will now take over the Hajj and Umrah ministry, reported SPA.
Al-Rabiah’s tenure at the Ministry of Health ends as the Kingdom continues to win international praise of its handling of the Coronavirus pandemic.
He will replace Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeed, who served in that role as acting Minister since May 2021, who held the post since July 2016. Bin Saeed replaced Mohammed Saleh Benten, who held the post since July 2016.
The king also ordered the establishment of a new body that will oversee the development of Yanbu, Umluj, Al-Wajh and Duba regions.
Through another royal decree, King Salman also relieved Abdulaziz bin Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Arefi from his post as Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and appointed him as Advisor at the cabinet’s general secretariat at excellent rank.
The royal orders also include promoting Lt. Gen. Mutlaq bin Salem Al-Azima to the rank of General, and appointing him as Commander of the Joint Forces.
