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Saudi FM Participates in BRICS Plus Summit on Behalf of King Salman

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
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Saudi FM Participates in BRICS Plus Summit on Behalf of King Salman

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA

On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah led on Thursday the Kingdom’s delegation participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia, as an invited country to join the BRICS group.
During the summit, Prince Faisal bin Farhan delivered a speech conveying the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister to President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the BRICS nations. He also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, SPA reported.
The Saudi FM highlighted the growing relations between the Kingdom and BRICS countries, noting that the volume of bilateral trade with BRICS countries exceeded $196 billion in 2023, accounting for 37% of the Kingdom’s total foreign trade.

He emphasized that the summit provides an opportunity to enhance cooperation with BRICS countries to address global challenges and support sustainable development.
On international issues, he expressed the Kingdom’s concern over escalating global tensions, stating: “At a time when we most need to confront global challenges, we witness rising tensions, polarization, and alignments that weaken the flexibility and effectiveness of multilateral forums. The Kingdom supports strengthening international institutions to meet the needs of all countries.”
On Gaza, he said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression poses a serious threat to regional and international security.”

The Saudi FM warned that the current escalation has extended to Lebanon, cautioning that the continuation of this conflict will exacerbate the situation in the region. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, and a serious commitment to achieving lasting peace.
He further referred to the Kingdom’s efforts to promote peace in the region, including the launch of the “Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” initiative last month in cooperation with international partners. He emphasized, “Granting the Palestinian people the right to self-determination is the only path to sustainable peace,” and praised the BRICS nations for their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their support for a solution based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

He concluded his speech by affirming that the Kingdom will continue to strengthen its partnerships with BRICS countries and expand avenues of cooperation in all fields in pursuit of global development and prosperity.

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Gulf

Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
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Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).

Information provided by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior helped Lebanese authorities foil an attempt to smuggle nearly 3.9 million amphetamine pills, the ministry said on Friday.

The seizure was made following intelligence shared by the Saudi ministry’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control as part of efforts to monitor criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, the ministry's security spokesperson Brigadier General Talal bin Shalhoub said in a statement.

Bin Shalhoub said cooperation between Saudi and Lebanese authorities in tracking and intercepting narcotics reflected the level of security coordination between the two countries in combating cross-border criminal networks.

Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue drug-trafficking activities that threaten the kingdom’s security and youth, disrupt smuggling operations and arrest those involved, he added.

Gulf

Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
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Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 

The United Nations has selected Riyadh as the headquarters of the first cybersecurity-focused office of its training and research arm, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The move reflects Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the sector and the success of its cybersecurity model at the national, regional and international levels.

The office will spearhead initiatives and projects focused on capacity building, policy development, and joint research and development programs, helping to strengthen the skills of a broad range of beneficiaries and specialists while advancing cybersecurity globally.

Its objectives align with the Global Initiative for Building Cyber Capacities, launched by Saudi Arabia in partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, particularly through research and development programs, training courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the capabilities of policymakers, law enforcement officials, diplomats and cybersecurity professionals worldwide.

Musaed Al Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Chairman of the NCA Board of Directors, praised the support the sector receives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

He said the selection reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to promoting international cooperation and joint action in cybersecurity.

Al Aiban added that the decision underscores Saudi Arabia’s leading position in the strategic sector and the achievements of its cybersecurity model since the establishment of the NCA as the country’s competent authority and national reference body for cybersecurity. He also highlighted the creation of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as the authority’s strategic and technical partner in developing the sector.

Saudi Arabia has established a strong track record in supporting strategic cybersecurity initiatives, further cementing its standing as a preferred destination for international organizations and institutions, Al Aiban underlined. He added that the Kingdom has long championed international initiatives aimed at enhancing the stability of cyberspace, contributing to societal prosperity, economic growth and human well-being worldwide.

For his part, Majed Al Mazyed, Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, said the UN’s decision further reflects Saudi Arabia’s internationally recognized leadership in cybersecurity, as evidenced by a range of global benchmarks.

He noted that Saudi Arabia retained its position as the world’s top-ranked country in cybersecurity for a second consecutive year in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025. He also pointed to the Kingdom’s designation by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for information and communication technologies, as a “Role Model” in the highest tier of the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024.

Michelle McDonough, Executive Director of UNITAR, said the launch of the institute’s first cybersecurity office and the choice of Riyadh as its headquarters underscore Saudi Arabia’s leadership and its pivotal role in advancing international cybersecurity efforts.

She added that the office will work with partners to address cybersecurity capacity gaps globally and help transform shared risks into shared resilience by connecting institutions and organizations across regions.

Saudi Arabia already hosts several regional and international cybersecurity bodies, including the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation, and the Cyber Economics Center, established through a partnership between the foundation and the World Economic Forum.

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf

UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates categorically denied on Friday media reports alleging the transfer of funds from the UAE to Iran, including allegations concerning USD 3 billion.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that these allegations are “entirely false and unfounded”, stressing that “no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE.”

The Ministry called on media outlets “to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources, and refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information and unfounded allegations,” reported the UAE's state news agency WAM.