Saudi Arabia, Qatar Agree on Boosting Bilateral Ties

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)  
The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)  
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Saudi Arabia, Qatar Agree on Boosting Bilateral Ties

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)  
The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)  

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed Sunday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed on upscaling the aspirations to advance bilateral ties.

The Saudi minister and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman co-chaired the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

At the beginning of the meeting, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister welcomed the Saudi minister and his accompanying delegation.

Working groups of the council's general secretariat presented their progress on preparatory work and the outcomes achieved recently by the subcommittees and their respective working groups.

The outcomes encompassed targets, initiatives, and memoranda of understanding that are to be signed during the forthcoming meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

During the meeting, they commended the cooperation and coordination demonstrated by the subcommittees and the working groups of the council's general secretariat in both countries.

They also stressed the importance of continuing coordination between the two sides in a way that meets the aspirations of the leadership and serves the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

The Saudi FM arrived in Doha on Sunday to participate in the 158th ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which will be attended by foreign ministers.

The meeting serves as preparation for the 44th session of the Supreme Council of the GCC to take place on Tuesday.

For his part, the Qatari FM said in a post on X that the first meeting of the Executive Committee discussed ways “to develop bilateral relations within the framework of the Executive Committee," and "to deepen cooperation through initiatives that would advance relations in ways that meet the aspirations of the leadership of our countries and achieve the interests of our two brotherly people.”



Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Qatari Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. (SPA)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Qatari Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the meeting, the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations, areas of cooperation and ways to strengthen and develop them in line with the aspirations of the two countries’ leaderships and peoples.

The two ministers discussed the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, contain their repercussions and safeguard regional security and stability. They underscored the importance of continued coordination and consultation, as well as aligning positions on current developments to bolster efforts to promote security and stability across the region.

They affirmed their support for Qatari and Pakistani mediation efforts and the role they play in advancing dispute settlement through diplomatic means. They also stressed the need to continue joint efforts to ensure security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the region's vital maritime corridors.


Qatari Prime Minister Arrives in Riyadh

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is welcomed upon his arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is welcomed upon his arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Qatari Prime Minister Arrives in Riyadh

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is welcomed upon his arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is welcomed upon his arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday.

He was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji at King Khalid International Airport.


UAE Halts All Trade, Financial Dealings with Iran after Attack

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE Halts All Trade, Financial Dealings with Iran after Attack

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The United Arab Emirates has said it is suspending all trade and financial dealings with Iran after reporting an Iranian missile attack directed at its ships.

The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the UAE, with no Iranian missiles aimed at the country since May after it bore the brunt of attacks in the early weeks of the Middle East war.

Abu Dhabi has however accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting its tankers at sea in recent weeks.

"In light of regional escalations... all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice," said UAE foreign ministry communications director Afra Al Hameli.

The UAE is home to a sizeable Iranian community and has been a major trading partner for US-sanctioned Iran, at least before the war.

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict.

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Abu Dhabi on Tuesday accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the country, the first such attack since May.

It later said the salvo was directed at shipping, but Tehran denied firing missiles at the UAE.

"UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country, with the first falling outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters," the UAE ministry said in a statement posted to social media.

A second statement released later said the missiles "were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea".

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei "categorically rejected the United Arab Emirates' claim that Iran had launched a missile towards that country", calling it harmful to regional trust and security efforts.

The first UAE statement came nearly two hours after a phone alert that warned residents of a "potential missile threat".

It was the first such alert since a false alarm in June and an alert in July for an attack that ultimately did not enter UAE territory.

Before that, the last missile warning came in early May.

However, tankers belonging to the UAE's state-owned oil company ADNOC have been repeatedly targeted in the past few weeks.

When the Middle East war began on February 28, the UAE bore the brunt of Iran's attacks, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones directed at the country -- more than anywhere else in the region.

After a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States came into effect in June, which has since collapsed, the UAE reported no attacks, unlike other Gulf states.