Saudi King Salman replaces Hajj and Umrah minister

Royal decrees name new heads of Supreme Administrative Court and civil aviation authority

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on December 15, 2020 shows Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz attending a virtual cabinet meeting in the capital Riyadh discussing the 2021 state budget. - Saudi Arabia projected its 2020 budget deficit will soar to around $79 billion, the finance ministry said Tuesday, as the world's top crude exporter reels from a coronavirus-led economic downturn. Late last year, the kingdom projected a budget deficit of $50 billion for 2020, up $15 billion on 2019. (Photo by - / SPA / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / SPA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===

Saudi Arabia's King Salman announced several new high-level appointments in royal decrees issued on March 12, 2015. SPA / AFP

The National

Mar 13, 2021

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman replaced the kingdom's minister for Hajj and Umrah in one of several changes to high-level posts announced by royal decree on Friday.

Essam bin Saad bin Saeed will take over the duties of Hajj and Umrah minister from Mohammad bin Taher Benten while continuing in his role as Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers, according to the royal decree reported by the state Saudi Press Agency.

Muslim pilgrims pray at Jabal Al Rahma holy mountain, or the mountain of forgiveness, at Arafat for the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. More than 2 million Muslims have begun the annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam which is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lifetime. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Saudi king approves financial support for Hajj and Umrah operators hit by Covid

The king also appointed Sheikh Ali Al Sa’awi as head of the Supreme Administrative Court, replacing Sheikh Ibrahim Al Rasheed, SPA said.

Abdul Aziz Dahilj was named head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation in place of Abdulhadi Al Mansouri, SPA said, while Mr Al Mansouri was appointed to the post of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Executive Affairs.

King Salman relieved Muhammad Al Salami of the post of Assistant Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, while appointing Maher Al Qasim as Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for the Civil Service.

The Saudi king also appointed Abdulaziz Al Arifi as assistant to the Minister of Transport, and Samir Al Tabib as an adviser to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, SPA said.

Hajj 2020 amid Covid-19 - in pictures

Pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. AFP