Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance
| وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية والدعوة والإرشاد | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 10, 1993 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Headquarters | Riyadh |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Minister responsible | |
| Website | Official Website |
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance[a] is a government ministry in Saudi Arabia responsible for overseeing Islamic affairs in the Kingdom.[1] It supervises and regulates mosques across the country and manages matters related to religious guidance and dawah.
History
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Awqaf, Dawah and Guidance was established by royal decree on 10 July 1993 during the reign of King Fahd. It was created to centralize the supervision of Islamic affairs and religious endowments (awqaf) under a single administrative body, consolidating responsibilities previously overseen by the Ministry of Hajj and Endowments.[2]
In the years following its establishment, the ministry’s organizational structure was revised to separate the administration of religious endowments (awqaf) from its religious and outreach functions. This restructuring led to the creation of the General Authority for Awqaf as an independent entity responsible for managing endowments (awqaf). In 2016, after the transfer of endowment (awqaf) responsibilities, the ministry’s name was changed to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.[3][4]
List of ministers
| No. | Portrait | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdullah Al-Turki | 9 August 1993 | 16 July 1999 | 5 years, 341 days | |
| 2 | Saleh Al-Sheikh | 16 July 1999 | 8 December 2014 | 15 years, 145 days | |
| 3 | Suleiman bin Abdullah | 8 December 2014 | 29 January 2015 | 1 month, 21 days | |
| 4 | Saleh Al-Sheikh | 29 January 2015 | 2 June 2018 | 3 years, 124 days | |
| 5 | Abdullatif Al-Sheikh | 2 June 2018 | Incumbent |
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Saudi Islamic Affairs Ministry expands digital outreach with daily religious programming during Hajj season". Arab News. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ^ Saudipedia (10 October 2025). "Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance". Saudipedia. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "General Authority for Awqaf". Saudipedia. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ^ "Saudi cabinet reshuffle and ministries overhaul explained". Al Arabiya English. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 2026-02-17.