Emir of Qatar Receives Saudi Foreign Minister

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
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Emir of Qatar Receives Saudi Foreign Minister

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met on Tuesday with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, who is on an official visit to Qatar.

The meeting, held at the Amiri Diwan, touched on bilateral relations and ways of promoting and enhancing them, as well as on regional and international issues of common concern, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Sheikh Tamim.

Saudi Ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan and Director General of the foreign minister’s office Abdulrahman Al-Daoud attended the meeting.

Prince Faisal later met with his Qatari counterpart and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

The meeting at the Amiri Diwan tackled bilateral relations and ways of promoting and bolstering them. They also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.



EU Gulf Envoy: Saudi Arabia Is a Crucial Global Player

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receiving European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receiving European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (SPA)
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EU Gulf Envoy: Saudi Arabia Is a Crucial Global Player

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receiving European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receiving European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (SPA)

Luigi Di Maio, the EU Special Representative for the Gulf region, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the recent visit by the President of the European Council to Saudi Arabia was to prepare for the upcoming EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels on October 16.

This will be the first summit between the two regional organizations, with leaders from both sides attending, marking a significant step in their cooperation.

Di Maio stressed the importance of strong ties between leaders, noting that European Council President Charles Michel has been dedicated to strengthening these relations since his first visit to the Gulf two years ago, when he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.

He added that since 2022, EU-Gulf relations have improved, with a focus on cooperation in areas like climate change, trade, investment, digitization, and sustainable supply chains.

Di Maio emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue to build mutual understanding and deepen these relations.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s key role in global affairs, especially in seeking solutions for the Gaza conflict, reducing tensions in the Middle East, and pursuing a just peace in Ukraine.

He stressed that closer cooperation between the EU and Saudi Arabia is essential in tackling these issues.

Di Maio praised Thursday’s preparatory meeting in Riyadh between GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi and Michel, calling it “timely and constructive” for the upcoming summit.

He emphasized both sides’ commitment to making the summit a success, noting that it will “send a strong signal about elevating EU-Gulf relations to a strategic level.”

Di Maio outlined the key topics for discussion at the summit in Brussels, including climate action, the green transition, digital advancements, trade, investments, and visa exemptions.

He added that the summit will also address major geopolitical challenges, particularly in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.