Muhammad Saleh Benten
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{short description|Saudi politician}}
File:الدكتور محمد صالح بن طاهر بنتن.jpg
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.{{cite web |title=Royal Decree with regard to the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin to the post of Minister of Haj and Umra |url=http://www.haj.gov.sa/english/MediaCenter/Pages/AnnouncementDetails.aspx?ItemId=20 |website=haj.gov |accessdate=28 January 2019}} He is of Indonesian descent, from his family name "Benten" which originates from the region of Banten, in western Java, his paternal grandma was from Banten.{{cite web |title=Darah Banten di Menteri Haji Arab Saudi (Banten Blood in Saudi Arabia's Hajj Minister)|date=22 February 2018 |url=https://ihram.co.id/berita/p4k6j6319/darahbantendimenterihajiarabsaudi |language=Indonesian |accessdate=23 September 2019}}
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.{{cite web |title=Banten Descendants Become Saudi Hajj Ministers |url=http://hajiumrahnews.com/2016/05/09/keturunan-banten-jadi-menteri-haji-saudi/ |website=hajiumrahnews.com |date=9 May 2016 |accessdate=1 February 2019}}
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.
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=
File:The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi with the Haj Minister of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).jpg 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.{{cite web |title=Saudi Arabia allows Umrah performers to visit all cities |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality/404495-saudi-arabia-allows-umrah-performers-to-visit-all-cities|work=Arabian Business |accessdate=28 January 2019}} In December 2018, Benten signed a bilateral agreement with the Indian Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi concerning the Hajj 2019.{{cite web |title=India Signs Haj Agreement with Saudi Arabia |url=http://diplomacybeyond.com/articles/tag/muhammad-saleh-benten/ |website=diplomacybeyond.com |publisher=Diplomacy and Beyond |accessdate=28 January 2019}}
=Recognition=
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Saudi Arabian people of Indonesian descent
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