Senior diplomat Vipul has officially assumed charge as India’s new Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Arriving in Riyadh on Tuesday, he formally took over his responsibilities on Wednesday morning after reaching the Embassy of India located in the Diplomatic Quarter. His arrival follows the receipt of his official letter of appointment from President Droupadi Murmu on July 31.
Upon assuming office, Ambassador Vipul paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at his statue on the embassy premises. Outlining his vision for the mission, the newly appointed envoy stated that his primary focus will be to comprehensively strengthen bilateral diplomatic relations between India and Saudi Arabia across all key sectors.
Ambassador Vipul's first major public engagement will take place on August 15, when he will hoist the Indian national flag at the Indian Embassy during the Independence Day celebrations, followed by his inaugural address to the Indian expatriate community in Saudi Arabia.
Distinguished Diplomatic and Academic Record
A 1998-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Vipul brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role. Prior to his assignment in Riyadh, he served as India's Ambassador to Qatar. His international diplomatic postings also include key assignments in Cairo, Colombo, Geneva, and Dubai, where he served as Consul General. Additionally, he served as Joint Secretary in charge of the Gulf division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi before taking charge of the mission in Qatar in 2023.
Ambassador Vipul possesses a distinguished academic background. He earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in 1994 and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.