Mouallimi Concludes 11-Year Tenure as Saudi Ambassador to UN

Abdallah Al-Mouallimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Abdallah Al-Mouallimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Mouallimi Concludes 11-Year Tenure as Saudi Ambassador to UN

Abdallah Al-Mouallimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Abdallah Al-Mouallimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Abdallah Al-Mouallimi has concluded an 11-year tenure as the Kingdom’s top envoy to the UN. In the period he served as ambassador, Mouallimi witnessed exciting events, situations and transformations that shaped his experience.

As a brilliant speaker, Mouallimi relayed the Kingdom’s stances, initiatives, and choices in helping reinforce joint humanitarian work and promote international efforts for advancing the well-being of humanity.

Members of the permanent Saudi delegation to the UN in New York praised the period during which Mouallimi held his position as a representative of his country.

According to his fellow coworkers, Mouallimi spent “eleven years of high professionalism and sincerity in diplomatic work, in the service of his religion, his king and his country.”

Born in 1952, Mouallimi received his B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University and earned a master’s degree in management from Stanford University.

Al-Mouallimi has a distinguished track record, having held senior government and executive positions over the past 30 years.

He has also served at the highest levels of the Saudi government, most notably when he was appointed to the Majlis Al-Shura, or the National Consultative Council, from 1997 to 2001.

Al-Mouallimi was appointed by royal decree to the position of mayor of Jeddah where he served with distinction until 2005.

Prior to this appointment as top envoy to the UN, Mouallimi served as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union from 2007 to 2011.

Mouallimi’s representation of Saudi Arabia’s views to the international community coincided with political and economic transformations taking place in the Middle East. This called for a voice of moderate reason to find the right ways to deal with the complex issues of the region.

Mouallimi, leaning on his ingenuity in rhetoric and expressing the conscience of the society from which he stems and represents, managed to voice the position of his country clearly.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s new permanent representative to the UN and Mouallimi’s successor, Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, has presented his credentials to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Al-Wasil joined the diplomatic corps in 1999 and served in the international organizations department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh.



Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
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Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held official talks on Wednesday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the latest regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them. The leaders also discussed a range of issues of common interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where Subianto was welcomed with an official reception ceremony. During their discussions, the two sides reviewed the state of relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across various sectors.

The visit also marked the convening of the first session of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, where a number of topics on the council’s agenda were addressed. At the conclusion, the two leaders signed the official record of the proceedings.

President Subianto arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a state visit to the Kingdom. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, who served as the accompanying minister; and other senior officials.

The Indonesian president’s visit comes amid significant regional developments, highlighting the importance of close coordination between Riyadh and Jakarta to reinforce regional and global security and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a common vision on resolving conflicts through peaceful, diplomatic means and dialogue. Both countries emphasize the need to create conditions that promote stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have steadily grown over nearly eight decades, encompassing political, economic, and cultural cooperation. The two countries are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and play important roles within the G20. They are also bound by longstanding and close ties between their peoples.

Formal relations date back to the era of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, when Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to recognize Indonesia’s independence. This early recognition paved the way for the exchange of diplomatic missions, which later developed into full embassies. Indonesia opened its first embassy in Jeddah in 1948, while Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s largest trading partner in the region. Both governments are committed to strengthening and diversifying trade, overcoming obstacles that hinder economic exchange, and fostering deeper engagement between their private sectors. Bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.

According to the Saudi Aid Platform, the Kingdom has implemented 113 projects in Indonesia, with a combined value of approximately $670 million. These projects span sectors such as education, transport and logistics, industry, mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare and early recovery, housing, non-food assistance, and a variety of developmental, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives.