Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva

Updated 27 June 2019
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Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva

Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel has been the ambassador of Saudi Arabia at the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva since 2016.

Representing the Arab Group at the Human Rights Council, Al-Wasel stressed the need to take measures to counter hate speech particularly on electronic platforms to ensure global peace.

He highlighted the importance of international cooperation to achieve the goals of sustainable development and to ensure human rights.

The Arab countries also stressed the best way to promote and protect human rights by increasing cooperation and ensuring impartiality, objectivity. The Arab group also called on the international community to ensure policies respecting cultural and religious diversity.

Al-Wasel holds a Ph.D. in political science and international relations. He served as a professor at the King Abdul Aziz Military Academy and at Marshall University in Virginia.

Al-Wasel joined the Kingdom’s diplomatic service in 1999, working in the human rights office in the department of international organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then served at the Saudi Embassy in Australia from 2001 to 2007.

Before taking up his post as ambassador of Saudi Arabia at the UN in 2016, Al-Wasel served as the Kingdom’s deputy ambassador to the UK from 2013 for three years. Prior to that, he served for five years as head of the human rights office of the Saudi delegation to the UN in Geneva.


Ramadan in Madinah: A blend of tradition and modernity

Updated 21 February 2026
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Ramadan in Madinah: A blend of tradition and modernity

  • Ramadan iftar tables in the neighborhoods have evolved into a community initiative that promotes solidarity and neighborliness

MADINAH: In the holy city of Madinah, Ramadan highlights a seamless blend of ancestral traditions and modern celebrations, as residents decorate homes and streets with lanterns.

Women play a central role in creating this spiritual atmosphere, transitioning from handmade ornaments to curated prayer spaces and Ramadan diaries for children.

Social solidarity remains the city’ cornerstone, manifested through the exchange of Ramadan baskets and the organization of massive communal iftar meals at the Prophet’s Mosque and in local neighborhoods.

Ramadan iftar tables in the neighborhoods have evolved into a community initiative that promotes solidarity and neighborliness.

The project has been undertaken by “Mujtamaei,” the Neighborhood Centers Association in Madinah Region, in partnership with the Madinah Regional Municipality, and covers 97 locations across residential districts.

The initiative organizes daily iftar gatherings that bring together residents, volunteers, and partner entities, reflecting strong community cohesion and fostering volunteerism and social connection among neighborhood residents and visitors during the holy month.

The program provides more than 80,000 iftar and sahoor meals, benefiting over 40,000 individuals, with 1,600 volunteers overseeing site organization and service delivery in accordance with quality and safety standards.

The project is part of a community development system that expands annually, focusing on increasing volunteer participation and strengthening partnerships, thereby reinforcing social values and revitalizing the spirit of neighborliness in Madinah.