Saudi Arabia, UN Sign Agreement to Finance Riyadh Initiative ‘GlobE’ 

Nazaha Chairman Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali sign the agreement on Monday, (SPA)
Nazaha Chairman Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali sign the agreement on Monday, (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, UN Sign Agreement to Finance Riyadh Initiative ‘GlobE’ 

Nazaha Chairman Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali sign the agreement on Monday, (SPA)
Nazaha Chairman Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali sign the agreement on Monday, (SPA)

The Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) signed a $20 million agreement to fund establishing the Riyadh Initiative "GlobE," a platform for sharing information among members of the Global Operations Network of Law Enforcement Authorities focused on anti-corruption efforts.

The agreement was signed by Nazaha Chairman Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

Saudi Ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna Dr. Abdullah bin Khaled Toula was also present at the signing.

Al-Kahmous expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continuous support of the Riyadh Initiative (GlobE).

He emphasized the importance of the Kingdom's leadership in strengthening local and international anti-corruption efforts in line with its Vision 2030.



UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
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UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bolstering "brotherly" ties with Syria during the first official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.

The two ministers also discussed the overall developments in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8.

The UAE's foreign minister reiterated the country's support for Syria's independence and sovereignty, WAM added.

Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of intelligence Anas Khattab and the UAE's minister of state for defense affairs, Mohammed Fadel al-Mazrouei, also attended the meeting.

The UAE is part of Shibani's second foreign tour, which earlier took him to Qatar and will also include a visit to Jordan. He said the visits aim to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships", according to his account on X.

Shibani made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia last week, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.