JEDDAH – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, has been appointed by King Salman as the Minister of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The King also appointed Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, to the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The nominations were made in two royal decrees issued by the King following the decision of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday to separate the President and the Authority. Both institutions will be organizationally linked to the King.
Dr. Al-Sudais previously served as chairman of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, which was renamed the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The new General Presidency will be responsible for regulating the affairs of the Imams and Muezzins of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, as well as all matters related to their religious affairs, such as religious circles and Islamic education.
The new General Authority, headed by Al-Rabiah, will be financially and administratively autonomous. It will be responsible for the specialized activities, services, operations, maintenance, and development of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
