Saudi Ambassador likely to stay out of box to pursue vision 2030

A change of staff at the Saudi Embassy has been reported ahead of the arrival of the new Saudi Ambassador, Major General (R) Dr. Rajeh bin Tami Al-Buqami.

Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami is among the eight ambassadors whose official oath-taking ceremony Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) witnessed at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on July 28, 2026.

This batch of eight ambassadors reflects new trends in Saudi diplomacy. Alongside Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami, who brings a strong military background, the group includes the new Ambassador to Sweden, Aseil bint Abdul-Aziz Al-Shehail.

Hailing from a prominent Riyadh family with close royal ties, Aseil represents yet another capable woman stepping into a powerful diplomatic position. Previously, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud served as Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Amal Almoallimi to Canada, and Princess Haifa Al Muqrin to Spain, among others.

The upcoming Saudi National Day in Islamabad on September 23 will mark Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami’s first major public event after assuming office. His appointment and the celebration of this day are closely aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s appointment in 2017, celebrations for Saudi National Day have evolved beyond simple formal dinners, instead serving as high-profile showcases for Vision 2030, economic branding, and soft-power projection.

Last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement on September 17, just ahead of the National Day celebrations on September 23. Unfortunately, the local city administration and managers struggled to manage the logistics, turning a historic diplomatic moment into a frustrating experience for attendees.

City roads near the Convention Centre were heavily blocked, leaving guests struggling with parking and exits. The administration successfully transformed what should have been a celebration into a showcase of gridlock and heavy-handed treatment of Islamabad residents.

Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami will also need to keep an eye on local bureaucratic theatricals as some of them can be riding camel carts across red carpets at the function. One such spectacle was recently witnessed elsewhere when two officers attracted everyone by riding a horse cart on red carpet.

Islamabad often operates like a free-for-all where anyone eager for attention tries to orbit visiting diplomats. A past chief commissioner used to host national day ceremonies on his own and the sitting HEC chairman leverages diplomatic photos on social media for personal visibility on a daily basis.

With reports of vivid light shows planned for the upcoming National Day reflecting the administration’s distinct aesthetic choices, it is worth remembering that the Faisal Mosque remains an iconic structure by any international standard. No matter what structures various rulers have built over the years, they have failed to outshine it. Sometimes, the best thing city managers can do is step back and let Islamabad reclaim its natural charm.

Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami enters a capital choked with defense analysts.For 25 years since 9/11, this analytical industry has grown heavy under its own weight. We frequently see the same faces from Islamabad’s posh F and E sectors briefing diplomats on every conceivable regional agenda—whether US, Afghan, Indian, Chinese, or Saudi.

These self-styled pundits have traded in geopolitical narratives for a quarter-century right before our eyes, often overshadowing Saudi-funded media outlets in Islamabad and preventing those institutions from achieving a true international standard.

Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami will need to steer clear of these narrative brokers to avoid being boxed in. Defense is their time-tested recipe, but he should ensure that the Saudi narrative is not held hostage to their circles.

I have often noted that the concept of “defense” carries vastly different connotations in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s cities, villages, and defense preferences are deeply intertwined, and over 20 percent of its diplomats come from active-duty military backgrounds.

Saudi Arabia, however, tells a different story. Aside from Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami in Islamabad, the Kingdom has only one other retired military officer serving as an ambassador: retired Brigadier General Abdulaziz Al-Shammari in Baghdad.

It is a misconception to view Saudi Vision 2030 as focused solely on commerce, development, and standard diplomacy. Defense remains a critical pillar: the Vision envisions Saudi Arabia moving away from costly foreign military imports, targeting at least 50 percent local defense production on home soil by 2030.

Yet, to achieve these goals, the Kingdom strategically deploys field experts, business leaders, and dealmakers as its ambassadors. While Major General (R) Dr. Al-Buqami possesses a distinguished military background, his primary mission as an ambassador will be to expand bilateral business and promote his country’s soft image through public diplomacy in Pakistan.

Given his trajectory, he is well-positioned to avoid the traps set by local defense analysts, bringing a refreshing, positive shift to diplomatic engagements in the days ahead.