Wafa Al-Marzouqi makes history as Saudi’s 1st woman consul general
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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has marked a historic milestone in its diplomatic service with the appointment of Wafa bint Abdullah Al-Marzouqi as the country’s first female consul general. She has been designated to serve in Houston, United States.
Al-Marzouqi is the first Saudi woman to reach the consul-general rank, marking a breakthrough in a senior diplomatic position previously occupied by men. Her appointment also highlights the growing presence of Saudi women in the kingdom’s diplomatic service.
Alongside Al-Marzouqi, Dr Sultan bin Farraj Al-Nafel was designated as consul general in Erbil, Iraq. The two diplomats took their oaths of office before Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.
The ceremony was attended by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Executive Affairs Abdul Hadi Al-Mansouri and Director General of the General Department of Diplomatic Corps Affairs Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shehri.
Saudi consulates represent the kingdom in major foreign cities and provide consular services to Saudi citizens. The consul general heads the mission and oversees its official responsibilities.
Al-Marzouqi’s appointment therefore stands as a notable development in Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic history, placing a Saudi woman in charge of consular representation in a major US city and signalling the expanding role of women in senior diplomatic positions. The key names and appointments in this report have been cross-checked against current Saudi reporting.