Muhammad Saleh Benten

Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Benten is a Saudi politician who was appointed as the Minister of Hajj and Umrah by King Salman on 27 July 2016.[1] He is of Indonesian descent, from his family name "Benten" which originates from the region of Banten, in western Java, his father's mother was from Banten.[2]

Muhammad Saleh Benten

Education

Benten received a doctorate in Computer Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a masters and bachelors in Electrical Engineering at King Fahd University.[3]

Career

Before becoming Minister, Benten occupied numerous positions. He has been President of the Saudi Post Corporation, assistant deputy minister of Hajj, Deputy Minister of Hajj, and the Dean of Faculty of Computer and Engineering. Benten has published more than 100 scientific studies.[3]

Benten became President of the Saudi Post in 2004 where he oversaw restructuring of the organization. As Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Benten introduced the e-Umrah project, which facilitated Umrahmt for more than 5 million people.

Ministry
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi with Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten at Jeddah

In 2018, Benten's ministry announced that Umrah performers who were foreigners were permitted to visit any city in Saudi Arabia, but they must spend 15 days of the 30-day Umrah stay visiting the two grand mosques in Mecca and Medina.[4] In December 2018, Benten signed a bilateral agreement with the Indian Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi concerning the Hajj 2019.[5]

Recognition

Benten won the best Middle East Technical Manager 2002 award and the Best Director in the Middle East award.[3]

References
  1. "Royal Decree with regard to the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin to the post of Minister of Haj and Umra". haj.gov. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. "Darah Banten di Menteri Haji Arab Saudi (Banten Blood in Saudi Arabia's Hajj Minister)" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  3. "Banten Descendants Become Saudi Hajj Ministers". hajiumrahnews.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. "Saudi Arabia allows Umrah performers to visit all cities". Arabian Business. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  5. "India Signs Haj Agreement with Saudi Arabia". diplomacybeyond.com. Diplomacy and Beyond. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
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