Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel

Suwaiyel was born in Unaizah, Al-Qassim Province. His father was Sheik Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Suwaiyel, an imam at a Unaizah mosque. He graduated from Cairo University, and he was the first Najdi person to attend the university.

Early career

Suwaiyal began his career teaching at a mission school in Mecca, before joining the diplomatic corps of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Suwaiyel was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by a royal decree of King Saud, and took office on 22 December 1960. His predecessor was Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (later King Faisal), and a close friend. With Faisal having held the office since its creation in 1930, Suwaiyel became the country's second foreign minister, and the first minister not a member of the Saudi royal family.

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. He left office on 16 March 1962.

Later career

On 31 October 1962, Suwaiyel took office as the Saudi Minister of Agriculture, serving until 29 August 1964. When Faisal became King of Saudi Arabia, Suwaiyel was appointed Saudi Ambassador to the United States, serving until Faisal's assassination in 1975. Faisal's half-brother, Khalid, became king, and Suwaiyel left his ambassadorship and returned to the capital of 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.

Suwaiyel died of a sudden heart attack at dawn on 21 May 1977 in Riyadh.