Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel

Al Sowayel began his career teaching at a mission school in Mecca, before joining the diplomatic corps of the ministry of foreign affairs.[1] He later served as a political advisor to King Saud, and a diplomat at the Saudi embassy in Cairo, Egypt. From 1958 to 1960, before being appointed foreign minister, he was the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iraq.

Al Suwaiyel was appointed minister of foreign affairs by King Saud, and took office on 22 December 1960.[1][2] His predecessor was Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (later King Faisal), who was a close friend of Al Suwaiyel. With Faisal having been responsible for the Saudi domains' foreign policy since 1930 (two years before the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Al Suwaiyel became the country's second foreign minister, and the first minister who was not a member of the Saudi royal family.[3][4] Al Suwaiyel held the office of foreign minister briefly, for less than two years, before returning it back to Faisal, whom he had asked to succeed him.[2] He left office on 16 March 1962.

Ibrahim Al Suwaiyel with his wife and Saudi interior minister Fahd bin Abdulaziz (later king), 1974

On 31 October 1962, Al Suwaiyel took office as the minister of agriculture, serving until 29 August 1964.[1] When Faisal became the king, Al Suwaiyel was appointed ambassador to the United States, serving until King Faisal's assassination in 1975.[1] In June 1974 during an informal conversation between US Foreign Minister Henry Kissinger and senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Khalid, Prince Fahd, Prince Sultan and Prince Musaid Kissinger stated that Al Suwaiyel was very devoted to Saudi Arabia.[5]

Following the reign of King Khalid Al Suwaiyel left his ambassadorship and returned to Riyadh to help aide the new monarch. From 1975 until his death in 1977, he served as an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and as a member of the Council of Ministers.[1]