Saud Ghassan Alsulaiman, the Honorary Consul of Sweden in Saudi Arabia, has been awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander First Class, by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The ceremony took place in Jeddah yesterday, Monday, in the presence of many official and diplomatic entities. Her Excellency Ms. Petra Menander, Ambassador of Sweden, presented the insignia to Saud Alsulaiman on behalf of His Majesty the King of Sweden. The honor was granted in recognition of Alsulaiman’s distinguished role in advancing economic, and trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Sweden.
Alsulaiman joins a distinguished list of who have received the Order in past decades, including prominent business and civic leaders. Since his appointment as Honorary Consul of Sweden in 2016, he has played a central role in deepening bilateral ties through high-level business delegations, joint ventures, and advocacy for Swedish innovation across sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, automotive technology, and digital transformation. These contributions align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives of diversification and global partnerships. In addition to his diplomatic role, Alsulaiman leads Alsulaiman Group, which has proudly operated the first-ever IKEA franchise worldwide since 1983, a milestone that cemented Saudi–Swedish business ties decades ago.
“This honor is deeply humbling,” Alsulaiman said. “I accept it as recognition not only of my own efforts but as a symbol of the strong and enduring partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Sweden.”
The Swedish Ambassador Petra Menander said: “This award is a recognition of Mr. Saud Alsulaiman’s outstanding contribution to strengthening the economic ties between Sweden and Saudi Arabia, and his dedicated service as the Honorary Consul over the past nine years. It is a great honour for me to hand it over on behalf of His Majesty the King of Sweden.”
The Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander First Class, founded in 1748 by King Frederick I, is Sweden’s second highest order of chivalry after the Order of the Seraphim. Traditionally awarded to Swedes and foreign nationals for civic merits and contributions to Sweden, the insignia with a central black field bearing a gold star, symbolizing guidance and integrity. Today, it continues to honor distinguished individuals worldwide for their contributions to diplomacy, culture, science, and economic cooperation.
