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Saudi Arabia’s Contribution to Humanitarian Relief Reaches $130 Billion

Saudi Arabia is among the top three leading global donors of development and humanitarian aid. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia is among the top three leading global donors of development and humanitarian aid. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Contribution to Humanitarian Relief Reaches $130 Billion

Saudi Arabia is among the top three leading global donors of development and humanitarian aid. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia is among the top three leading global donors of development and humanitarian aid. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has offered a record amount of aid relief to countries in need, reaching 130 billion dollars, revealed new official figures.

This makes the Kingdom among the top three leading global donors of development and humanitarian aid.

From Punjab to Jerusalem

The Kingdom can trace back its record in relief aid to the mid-20th century. In 1950 and under the directives of the founder King Abdulaziz, it sprang to offer humanitarian aid to the victims of floods in Punjab that claimed around 2,900 lives.

The following year, Saudi Arabia set up a major school in Jerusalem where 500 students received comprehensive care and education. King Abdulaziz dedicated 100,000 dollars to the school every year.

Egypt and Yemen

A total of 169 countries have benefitted from the Saudi Arabia’s aid. Six Islamic countries, including five Arab ones, have received the most aid. Egypt tops the list with over 32 billion dollars in aid, followed by Yemen with over 26 billion, Pakistan with around 13 billion, Syria with over 7 billion, Iraq with 7 billion and Palestine with over 5 billion dollars.

Saudi Arabia has executed 7,019 humanitarian, charitable and development projects in these 169 countries. Eighty-eight percent of the projects were dedicated to development.

The number of education projects reached 1,861, food security and agriculture 975, health 750, support and coordination of humanitarian operations 324 and support of budgets 308.

Aid dedicated to the displaced reached 22 billion dollars. Yemeni refugees received over 11 billion dollars alone and Syrians over 6 billion.

KSrelief

On May 13, 2015, Saudi aid embarked on a new chapter with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s inauguration of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).

King Salman said at the time that the center will be dedicated to humanitarian aid, away from any other motives, and that it will cooperate with relief organizations to achieve its goals.

Since then, KSrelief has carried out around 2,674 humanitarian and relief projects, worth over 6 billion dollars, in 99 countries. It has focused its energies on vital sectors, such as food, education, health, nutrition, water, shelter and others. It has been carrying out its work without discriminating against nationality or country.

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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.