Saudi Arabia has appointed Wafa bint Abdullah Al-Marzouqi as its new Consul General in Houston, Texas, in a move highlighting Riyadh’s efforts to further strengthen its diplomatic and consular engagement with the United States. Al-Marzouqi formally took the oath of office on Sunday before Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh.
According to the Saudi Gazette, Sultan bin Faraj Al-Nafel, who has been appointed Consul General in Erbil, Iraq, also took his oath during the same ceremony. Al-Marzouqi’s appointment is particularly notable because, according to Saudi media reports, she is the first Saudi woman to serve as Consul General in Houston.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by senior Saudi officials, including Assistant Minister for Executive Affairs Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri and Director General for Diplomatic Corps Affairs Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shehri, along with other ministry representatives.
Houston is an important consular hub for Saudi-American relations, serving Saudi citizens across Texas and other parts of the southern United States. The Saudi Consulate also plays a role in facilitating business links, providing consular services and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Al-Marzouqi’s appointment therefore represents more than a routine diplomatic transition. It also provides a visible example of the growing role of Saudi women in the kingdom’s diplomatic service and international representation.
The appointment comes as Saudi Arabia and the United States continue to deepen engagement on a broad range of issues, including security, investment, trade, energy and regional geopolitics. In Houston, Al-Marzouqi will be expected to oversee consular services for Saudi nationals while helping strengthen Saudi-American communication and cooperation at the local and regional levels.
Important diplomatic message from Riyadh, first Saudi female consul general in Houston
