Saudi Arabia appoints first Minister for Gulf Affairs

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the appointment of Thamer Al-Sabhan as the first Minister of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, the media reported.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered the creation of the post and named Al-Sabhan as the minister in charge of the region-related affairs, Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Sabhan was the Saudi Ambassador to Iraq, and Saudi Arabia announced on Friday Abdulaziz Al Shimari as his successor for the post of Saudi Charge d'affaires to Baghdad.