NEW DELHI: India's ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, has been appointed as the next Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the government announced in an official statement on Tuesday. An Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1998 batch, Vipul is expected to assume his new responsibilities shortly.
Significance of the Appointment
This appointment is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first instance where a non-Muslim will head India's diplomatic mission in Riyadh. While India has predominantly appointed career diplomats to serve as ambassadors to the Kingdom, there have also been political appointees in the past.
Notable former ambassadors include MOH Farook, who served from 2004 to 2009, and former Mumbai police commissioner Ahmad Javed, who held the post from 2016 to 2019.
Vipul's Background
Vipul has previously served in Indian missions in Cairo, Colombo, Geneva, and Dubai. He has also held the position of head of the Ministry of External Affairs' Gulf division. His extensive experience in diplomatic roles across the Middle East and other regions is expected to be an asset in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
