RIYADH, Jan 29: Saudi Arabia has nominated Adel al-Jubeir, an adviser to King Abdullah, as its new ambassador to the United States, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Jubeir, also a former spokesman at the embassy in Washington, replaces Prince Turki al-Faisal who resigned in December for what he said were family reasons.

The appointment was announced by royal decree on Monday. A US official said in December the Saudi government had asked Washington to consent to its choice of US educated Jubeir, 44, to represent the world's largest oil exporter.

"In accordance with a request from Prince Turki al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz... to be discharged from his duties and in accordance with a proposal from the foreign minister, we have ordered the nomination of Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir as ambassador to the United States with the rank of minister," said the decree, reported by the official news agency SPA.

The Washington Post had said last year that Prince Turki had been increasingly rumoured as a possible replacement for his brother, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, who it said was in fragile health.

When Prince Turki flew home after only 15 months in the crucial diplomatic post, a source at the Saudi embassy said he had left after telling staff he was quitting because he wanted to spend more time with his family.