Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari

Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari (born 1952) is a Saudi politician who served as minister of higher education between 1991 and 8 December 2014. He was the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to France between February 2016 and October 2019.

Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari
Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari, in 2006
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to France
In office
15 February 2016 – October 2019
Prime MinisterKing Salman
Preceded byMohammed bin Ismail Al Sheikh
Minister of Higher Education
In office
1991 – 8 December 2014
Prime Minister
Succeeded byKhalid bin Abdullah Al Sabti
Personal details
Born1952 (age 70–71)
Jeddah
SpouseMohdi Al Ibrahim
Alma materUniversity of Florida

Early life and education

Angari was born in Jeddah in 1952.[1][2] He holds a PhD in geography which he received from the University of Florida in 1981,[1][3] and an honorary doctorate degree from Umm al-Qura University which was awarded in 2017.[4]

Career

Angari was a faculty member at King Saud University.[2] He worked there from 1981 to 1983.[1] He was then named as the deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs where he served from 1983 to 1984.[1][5] He briefly served as minister of municipal and rural affairs from 1990 to 1991.[6]

Al Angari was appointed minister of higher education by King Fahd.[1] During his tenure, he increased the number of governmental universities from 7 to 28, established more than 500 colleges, and led the implementation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship program.[4] He opened a four-day, 450 person higher education fair, which was conceived to allow Saudi students opportunities to study abroad and to meet with international institutions.[7] In 2006, Al Angari signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his Indian counterpart, Arjun Singh, which allowed Saudi students to study abroad in India.[8]

In August 2013 Al Angari extended the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) to 2020 in an effort to improve the outcome of the Saudi education system.[9] His term ended on 8 December 2014 when Khalid bin Abdullah Al Sabti replaced him as minister of higher education.[10]

Ambassador to France

In February 2016 Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari began to serve as the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to France, with the goal of increasing bilateral ties with the country,[11][12] focusing on promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia, developing ties for higher education and research exchange, and strengthening counter terrorism ties.[13]

Al Angari placed an emphasis on cultural and artistic exchanges by promoting events such as the MiSK Art exposition at the World Heritage Centre in Paris, participating in the Salon of Books in Paris, and organizing a Saudi art exposition at the Young International Artists art fair.[14][15] In September 2016, he inaugurated the Saudi pavilion at the International Village of the Art of Cooking and Culture in Paris.[16]

In November 2017, Al Angari conducted a visit to the Great Synagogue of Paris. This visit was the first of its kind, and Angari was received by France's chief rabbi, Haïm Korsia, and the synagogue's rabbi, Moshe Sebbag.[17][18] His tenure ended in October 2019.[5]

Personal life

Al Angari is the brother-in-law of Walid Al Ibrahim. His wife is Mohdi Al Ibrahim, who is the sister of Al Jawhara bint Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, one of King Fahd's spouses.[19][20] He has eight children.[21][22]

References
  1. "Biographies of Ministers". Saudi Embassy. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  2. Curriculum Vitae of His Excellency the Minister Archived 8 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Higher Education. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  3. David B. Ottoway (Summer 2012). "Saudi Arabia's Race Against Time" (PDF). Wilson Center. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. UQU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Al Angari Higher Education Service, Uqu.edu.sa, 25 March 2017
  5. "Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Angari, former Saudi ambassador to France". Arab News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. "The Political Leadership - King Fahd". APS Review Gas Market Trends. 29 November 1999. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  7. Polish universities invite Saudi students, Go-poland.pl
  8. Saudi Minister of Higher Education arrives in India, Mofa.gov.sa, 19 May 2012
  9. Rodolfo C. Estimo Jr, Saudi Arabia puts premium on education, Arab News, 16 April 2013
  10. "King Abdullah names new ministers". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  11. "Saudi Ambassador to France Presents his Credentials to French President". SPA. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. Saudi Ambassador to France Presents his Credentials to French President, Spa.gov.sa, 24 February 2016
  13. (in French) Audition de SE Dr Khalid bin Mohammad al Ankary, ambassadeur d'Arabie saoudite en France, Mediapart.fr, 1 March 2016
  14. (in French) Siegfried Forster, L’art contemporain saoudien, une bonne surprise exposée à l’Unesco, Rfi.fr, 12 October 2017
  15. (in French) «France-Arabie: pour un partenariat stratégique renforcé», par l’ambassadeur d’Arabie saoudite à Paris, Lopinion.fr, 5 April 2018
  16. (in French) Le Royaume participe au festival du Village international de l'art de la cuisine et de la culture, Spa.gov.sa, 28 September 2016
  17. Yaakov Katz. (23 November 2017). In possible nod to Israel, two top Saudi officials visit Paris Synagogue, Jerusalem Post
  18. Elliott Abrams. (23 November 2017). More evidence Saudi Arabia is warming to Israel, Newsweek
  19. "Al Anoud bint Abdulaziz; King Fahd's Wife". Los Angeles Times. 16 March 1999. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  20. "First wife of King Fahd dies". Associated Press. 9 May 1999. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  21. "HH Princess Al Jawhara bint Ibrahim". King Abdulaziz University. 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  22. Baria Alamuddin (7 May 2004). "Princess Al Jawhara Ibrahim Al Ibrahim in her first interview". Ain Al Yaqeen (reported from Al Hayat). Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
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