Royal Order Appoints Sheikh Dr. Saleh Al‑Fawzan as Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has issued a royal order appointing Sheikh Dr. Saleh Al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s new Grand Mufti, replacing the late Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh.
In a major religious leadership move, Sheikh Dr. Saleh Al‑Fawzan has been officially appointed Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al‑Saud, following the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This appointment comes after the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al‑Sheikh, who served as Grand Mufti for over 25 years.
Sheikh Al-Fawzan, born in 1935 in the Al-Qassim province of Saudi Arabia, has long held prominent scholarly positions, including membership of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta.
The role of Grand Mufti is highly influential — especially given Saudi Arabia’s position as the custodian of the two holiest cities in Islam, Masjid al‑Haram in Makkah and Masjid an‑Nabawi in Madinah.
Sheikh Al-Fawzan replaces a long-standing tradition of Grand Muftis coming from the Al ash-Sheikh family. His appointment marks a notable shift in the religious leadership landscape.
This decision is expected to affect religious rulings, the issuance of fatwas, and the overall direction of religious policy in the Kingdom as it continues its Vision 2030 reforms.
