Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmad Javed is India's new envoy in Saudi Arabia

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmad Javed was appointed on Friday as India's next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, six months after last Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao had retired.

Javed is expected to take charge after his retirement next January. ET had reported earlier this week that Indian Embassy has been headless for last six months.

Ever since Hamid Ali Rao left Saudi Arabia after finishing his term as an Ambassador, the post is lying vacant in search of a capable hand. India has always posted members from Muslim community as Ambassadors in Riyadh whether from IFS or as political appointees from academia or world of politics.

The mission in Saudi Arabia is critical for India with presence of a huge diaspora, security situation emanating from conflicts in Yemen and Syria, energy security, investment opportunities and Indo-Saudi counter-terror and defence cooperation.

While chiefs of various military wings have been appointed as envoys in various countries in recent years including Norway Canada & New Zealand, this would be first occasion in recent times when a cop have been appointed for post of envoy.