Al-Sudais now Head of Religious Affairs of two Holy Mosques, with rank of minister

MAKKAH - The Saudi Arabian government announced on Tuesday the appointment of Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais as Head of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Holy Mosque, with the rank of minister, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

This matter was stated in the outcome of the Saudi Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The cabinet also agreed on the establishment of the 'the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Holy Mosque', which is an independent body directly under the Saudi Royal institution to oversee religious matters and teachings in the two Holy Cities of Islam.

The cabinet also decided to change the name of ‘The General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque’ to ‘The General Authority for Caring for the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Holy Mosque’.

The cabinet also made the decision to name Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, who is also the Minister of Haj and Umrah, as the Chairman of the new body (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Holy Mosque).

The functions of this body will focus on managing the services, operations, maintenance, and development of both mosques.

The body will also have a board of directors, the chairman and its members of which will be appointed through a royal decree. - BERNAMA-SPA