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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, organized a reception at the embassy in Washington on Monday to honor Dr. Hanan Balkhi, the Kingdom’s nominee for director-general of the World Health Organization. The gathering occurred on the margins of Pan American Health Organization meetings and brought together diplomats, heads of delegations and representatives from international organizations. Princess Reema welcomed the attendees and stressed the event’s value in introducing the candidate while building networks among global health stakeholders. She praised Balkhi’s professional background in public health and her leadership across national, regional and international levels, noting that these attributes bolster the candidacy.
Senior Saudi figures attended the reception, according to the agency, including Princess Dr. Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz, chief executive of the Future Investment Initiative Foundation, and Deputy Health Minister Engineer Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih. Also present were Dr. Nouf Al-Numeir, assistant deputy minister for international cooperation at the health ministry, Dr. Omar Al-Shanqiti, senior adviser to the health minister, and other officials responsible for population health. The agency described the event as part of broader diplomatic efforts to advance the Kingdom’s candidate on the international stage.
The Ministry of Health announced Saudi Arabia’s nomination of Balkhi on August 24, 2026, for the term running from 2027 to 2032. The ministry highlighted her extensive experience in public health, infectious diseases, infection prevention, health security and systems strengthening as well as her leadership roles within the World Health Organization at country, regional and global levels. Balkhi currently serves as the organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, a position she assumed in 2024 after earlier serving as assistant director-general for antimicrobial resistance.
Balkhi is one of five candidates vying to succeed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Asharq Al-Awsat compilation of nominees showed. The field also includes Qatar’s Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwari, a former health minister, Belgium’s Hans Kluge, who leads the WHO European regional office, Spain’s Maria Neira, an epidemiologist and former WHO director, and Indonesia’s Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the current health minister. The World Health Assembly is expected to conduct the selection process in the coming year through established voting procedures among member states.
The Ministry of Health stated that the nomination underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing the WHO’s capacity to address member states’ needs while promoting equity, transparency and efficiency in global health governance. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a key partner in international health initiatives, including substantial contributions to humanitarian and medical relief efforts worldwide. The ministry noted that Balkhi’s candidacy aligns with the country’s aspiration to support stronger multilateral collaboration on health challenges.
Balkhi expressed gratitude for the nomination in public statements carried by multiple outlets after the August announcement. She thanked the Saudi leadership for its support of both domestic health advancements and global health contributions. The Kingdom’s engagement in WHO activities has grown in recent years, with Saudi officials participating actively in assemblies and regional committees that shape international health policy.
