The Ghanaian Minaret

Makkah, Saudi Arabia: Saudi’s Council of Ministers has decided to establish the Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque.

The Council has also upgraded the existing General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque into an administrative Authority to be known as the “General Authority for Caring for the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque”.

Organizationally, the King, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is connected to both organisations.

The administrative reforms were announced in a press statement copied to the Saudi Press Agency.

“This transformation aims to enhance the State’s commitment to these holy sites and facilitate their institutional development in alignment with ongoing development plans,” the statement highlighted.

The new Presidency, under the supervision of the General Authority, will oversee matters concerning imams and prayer callers as well as other religious affairs, including scholarly lessons held within the Two Holy Mosques.

On the other hand, the General Authority, which consists of a Board of Directors, will have financial and administrative independence with a juridical personality.

It will be responsible for managing various tasks related to services, operation, maintenance, and development of the two Holy Mosques.

In two royal decrees, the King has named Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais as the Head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Two Mosques, in the rank of a minister.

While the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

The Cabinet’s Bureau of Experts, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, will work on organisational arrangements.

The Bureau will also review regulations, orders, royal orders, and decisions for both entities and make proposed amendments that are expected to be submitted within 60 days.

In the coming days, a technical committee to be chaired by Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority, will be formed.

The committee has the task of developing mechanisms to address financial and functional aspects of the proposed changes to the administration of the two Holy Mosques.

The committee would comprise members from various relevant organisations that include the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Ministry of Finance.

Other members would include the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the General Authority for Caring for the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque, the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Holy Mosque and Prophet’s Holy Mosque, and the Committee of the Pilgrim Experience Programme.