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Saudi Cabinet Reviews Efforts to Enhance Int’l Cooperation to Confront Water Challenges

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet session in NEOM. SPA
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet session in NEOM. SPA
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Saudi Cabinet Reviews Efforts to Enhance Int’l Cooperation to Confront Water Challenges

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet session in NEOM. SPA
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet session in NEOM. SPA

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has chaired the Cabinet session in NEOM, which discussed several issues, including efforts to enhance international multilateral cooperation to confront water challenges.

The King briefed the Cabinet on Tuesday on conversations that took place with leaders of several countries over the past days regarding means of enhancing relations with the Kingdom in various fields.

In statements to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari said the Cabinet discussed reports submitted by follow-up committees tasked with coordinating between the Kingdom and various countries. The reports detail the latest efforts of the committees to consolidate cooperation and integration bonds with these countries.

The minister said the Cabinet looks forward to further advancement of joint work considering the distinguished relations and historic bonds bringing together Saudi Arabia and the brotherly countries.

The Cabinet discussed the efforts made by the Kingdom in enhancing international multilateral cooperation to face water challenges around the world and taking the initiative to help tackle them.

Such efforts to deal with water challenges include the establishment of a Riyadh-based Global Water Organization that aims to develop and integrate joint work between states and organizations in the water field to achieve sustainable development goals.

The minister stated that the Cabinet reviewed regional and international developments, as well as the efforts being made in these areas, reiterating the significance of cooperation and the consolidation of joint endeavors to achieve stability, foster peace, and promote global development.

The Cabinet addressed items on its agenda and issued several decisions, such as authorizing the minister of energy, or a deputy, to hold discussions with Italy on a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi and Italian governments for cooperation in the field of energy.

The Cabinet also approved a draft MoU on the establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC) between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Tourism and the following parties: the Ministry of Tourism in South Africa; the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Ghana; and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.

The Cabinet authorized the president of the Islamic University of Madinah, or a deputy, to hold discussions with the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies regarding a draft MoU in the fields of science, research, academia, and knowledge exchange between the University and the Center in the United Kingdom.

It also authorized the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), or a deputy, to discuss with India a draft MoU between the SSA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in the field of space activities for peaceful purposes.

The Cabinet further authorized the President of the General Court of Audit (GCA), or a deputy, to discuss with India a draft MoU between the GCA and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for cooperation in the field of accounting, auditing, and professional work.

The Cabinet also approved the policy of “Open Access to Government-Funded Research Infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

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Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”

Gulf

Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.