His Excellency Mr. Azzam Abdulkarim Algain, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Spain
He was born in Saudi Arabia on February 1, 1959. He graduated in Political Science from Columbus University in 1986 and obtained a Master's degree in International Relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has had a distinguished diplomatic career.
- Diplomat at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Beijing from 1989 to 1992,
- Diplomat at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington from 1992 to 2005,
- Diplomat at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Cairo from 2005 to 2010,
- Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in New York from 2010 to 2013.
He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Protocol Affairs from 2013 to 2020. He has participated in various summits, including the "Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo-Riyadh," the Summit of Arab-Islamic Countries in Riyadh, the Arab Forum for Economic and Cooperation with Central Asia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca in 2014. He participated in the 4th Summit of Arab and South American Countries in Riyadh in 2016, the "Riyadh 2017 Arab-Islamic Countries Summit" with the participation of the United States with former President Donald Trump. He also took part in the Advisory Board of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center in Riyadh. He was involved in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca in 2017, as well as the Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen in Riyadh in 2017.
He has participated in the most important Arab Country summits, including the "Arab League Summit in Dhahran 2018," the "Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh 2019," the "Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Mecca 2019," the "Ministerial Meeting of Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Bordering Countries in Riyadh 2019," the "G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nagoya 2019," the "UN General Assembly held in New York in 2019," and the "Golden Jubilee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca 2019." He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Protocol Affairs from 2013 to 2020.
As Ambassador in Spain, we highlight the meeting held by Ambassador Azzam Abdulkarim Algain with the media in Madrid, including the Director of Embassy Today. The purpose of the meeting was the visit to the Spanish capital by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, to participate in the High-Level Summit of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Some of the programs implemented by KSrelief were highlighted, including MASAM, a large-scale program in Yemen aimed at demining landmines in populated areas. Additionally, the various specialized centers in Yemen were mentioned, providing prosthetic devices to amputees and a rehabilitation program for former child soldiers in the country. The center also provides vital assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons from Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, and other countries in crisis.
Furthermore, mention was made of the successful Saudi Siamese Twins program, led by Dr. Al Rabeeah, who heads a surgical and multidisciplinary team. Over the past three decades, this program has reviewed 127 cases from 23 countries and successfully separated 55 pairs of Siamese twins. It is worth noting that this program is fully sponsored by the Saudi government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Al Rabeeah has chaired and participated in numerous national and international scientific and health committees. He has recently led the National COVID-19 Committees for the acquisition of medical supplies, mobile hospitals, the expansion of intensive care units, personal protective equipment, medicines, and vaccines. He has also been part of various high-level national committees responsible for planning and monitoring the pandemic and has been appointed a member of the Ministerial Committee for Vaccines and Biological Products in the medical industries of Saudi Arabia.
During the press meeting, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, explained the organization and scope of this humanitarian center, providing a detailed explanation of the organization and impact of the center on humanitarian aid. With a presence in 92 countries, the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, established on May 13, 2015, has built strong ties with the nations in which it operates, providing assistance, especially to women and children, through the creation of specialized centers in health, education, and nutrition. Furthermore, the center has facilitated access to clean water and provided a safe haven for those in need. With delegations in Jeddah, Sharorah, Turkey, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, and Lebanon, Saudi Arabia provides assistance to disadvantaged countries and hosts one million refugees, considering them as guests and providing them with healthcare and education services. The King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action has established 34 cooperation agreements with various regional and international organizations, including United Nations agencies and Saudi universities. It also closely collaborates with nations committed to humanitarian aid, including Spain. During the meeting, Dr. Al Rabeeah praised Spain's generous role, highlighting the shared values and goals between the two countries, as well as the historical relations between Madrid and Riyadh.
From Embassy Today, we want to congratulate the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action for its outstanding project, as well as Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah for his wisdom and enriching presentation. We also extend our gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Azzam Abdulkarim Algain for his outstanding work as the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Spain. We appreciate Suleimán Allahim for the excellent organization of this press meeting.