Saudi Arabia Appoints Faisal al-Mujfel Ambassador to Syria

Saudi Arabia's new Ambassador to Syria Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia's new Ambassador to Syria Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Appoints Faisal al-Mujfel Ambassador to Syria

Saudi Arabia's new Ambassador to Syria Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia's new Ambassador to Syria Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia appointed a new ambassador to Syria on Sunday, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel will be the Kingdom's first envoy to Damascus since the closure of the Saudi embassy there in 2012 during the Syrian civil war.

Dr. Faisal expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for entrusting him with this duty.

Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Syria earlier this year after the two countries cut diplomatic ties more than a decade ago.

Syria reopened its embassy in Riyadh last year and appointed a new ambassador in December.



Saudi Arabia, Kenya Agree to Deepen Investment

The Saudi and Kenyan delegations are seen at the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
The Saudi and Kenyan delegations are seen at the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Kenya Agree to Deepen Investment

The Saudi and Kenyan delegations are seen at the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
The Saudi and Kenyan delegations are seen at the meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received in Riyadh on Sunday Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.

Prince Faisal and Mudavadi chaired the first meeting of the Saudi-Kenyan Political Consultations Committee aimed at further developing relations between their countries and boost coordination and consultation in a manner that serves their common interests and supports regional security and stability.

At the conclusion of the meeting, three Memoranda of Understanding were signed:

The first, in the field of encouraging direct investment, was signed Saudi by Minister of Investment Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif, and Mudavadi.

The second, on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, was signed by Saudi Governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Eng. Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi, and Musalia Mudavadi.

The third, between the Saudi Export-Import Bank and the Kenya Development Corporation, was signed by CEO of the Saudi EXIM Bank Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalb, and Director General of the Kenya Development Corporation Dr. Nora Ratemo.

An agreement on the recruitment and employment of Kenyan workers was also signed by Saudi Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Labor and Social Protection Dr. Alfred N. Mutua.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Elkhereiji; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati; Saudi Ambassador to Kenya Saad AlNafie; and Director General of the General Department for African Countries Saqr AlQurashi.


Qatar Says All Maritime Activities Will Resume Immediately

A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
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Qatar Says All Maritime Activities Will Resume Immediately

A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)

Qatar said on Sunday that maritime activities would resume with immediate effect, according to a Transport Ministry statement posted on X.

This reverses a June 29 advisory ‌that had ‌urged the temporary ‌suspension ⁠of sailing and fishing ⁠boats until further notice, though commercial shipping was exempted.

The ministry on Sunday urged all maritime vessel ⁠operators and users to "abide ‌by ‌the maritime regulations and ‌instructions in effect, to ensure ‌the highest levels of safety and security for all trips".

However, the ministry stressed that the resumption is dependent on rigorous adherence to approved preventive controls and technical requirements.

It urged all vessel owners, maritime operators, and seafarers to fully comply with the maritime regulations and instructions.

It also underlined the need to ensure the availability of all required safety and security equipment on board vessels before and during sailing to avoid risks.


Saudi-Backed Initiative Trains Yemeni Teachers in Digital Skills

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
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Saudi-Backed Initiative Trains Yemeni Teachers in Digital Skills

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)

A Saudi-backed initiative to strengthen Yemeni teachers’ digital skills has been launched as part of broader efforts to modernize education and equip educators to integrate technology into the classroom.

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) is implementing the “Digital Empowerment for Yemeni Teachers” project in partnership with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at King Abdulaziz University.

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra.

The project aims to strengthen teachers’ digital and professional skills through a blended training program combining in-person instruction with remote learning via videoconferencing, enabling participants across the targeted governorates to take part.

The curriculum focuses on integrating digital technologies into teaching, improving educational content and instructional methods, and enhancing the capacity of Yemen’s education workforce to keep pace with rapid technological change.

The initiative is part of a broader SDRPY effort to support human development, reflecting its view of education as a cornerstone of sustainable development and institutional capacity building.

The training program consists of two main tracks. The first focuses on artificial intelligence applications and AI-generated subject-specific content, enabling teachers to use modern digital tools to develop and enhance instructional materials.

The second covers digital instructional design, training participants to create interactive educational content in line with modern teaching practices, strengthen digital learning environments and increase student engagement.

The project is expected to expand the use of digital solutions in schools and educational institutions while building a teaching workforce better equipped to adapt to technological advances.

It builds on SDRPY’s broader support for Yemen’s education sector, spanning general, higher, technical and vocational education through the construction and equipping of model schools, university development, the establishment of colleges and institutes, and teacher training.

SDRPY has implemented 287 projects and initiatives since its establishment across eight key sectors: education, health, energy, water, transport, agriculture and fisheries, development programs, and capacity building for Yemen’s legitimate government, with the aim of supporting stability and improving basic services across the country.