Saudi Arabia Welcomes Hosting of Trump-Putin Summit

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in 2019. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in 2019. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Hosting of Trump-Putin Summit

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in 2019. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in 2019. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia commended on Friday the telephone call that took place between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The Kingdom welcomes the announcement of the possibility of holding a summit attended by both presidents in Saudi Arabia, said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Saudi Arabia underscored its ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

It highlighted the telephone calls by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 3, 2022, during which he stressed the Kingdom's readiness to provide its good offices to reach a political solution to the crisis.

Over the past three years, the Kingdom continued these efforts, which included hosting numerous meetings on this issue, said the statement.



Saudi Arabia Stresses its Support for Efforts to Establish Regional, Global Stability

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Stresses its Support for Efforts to Establish Regional, Global Stability

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s firm support for efforts aimed at establishing global and regional stability and security.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

He briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of his meeting with King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim, highlighting discussions on developing and strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields.

The Cabinet discussed the state's comprehensive care and attention to the affairs of Hajj, Umrah, and visitation through all relevant agencies. The Cabinet hailed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' address during the fifth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, which underlines the Kingdom's commitment to serving the two holy mosques and their visitors while continually improving services for pilgrims and Umrah performers.

The Cabinet praised the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) for organizing the inaugural History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques forum, which underscores the Kingdom's efforts and leadership in serving the two holy mosques since the era of its Founder King Abdulaziz.

The Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's achievement in leading the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region with 16 cities approved as healthy by the World Health Organization, reflecting its commitment to prioritizing human health in development and promoting preventive principles in line with the Quality of Life Program and the Health Sector Transformation Program outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.

The Cabinet noted that the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted by the Kingdom and featuring 3,000 athletes from 57 countries, underline sports as a means to strengthen the values of Islamic brotherhood and foster peace, love, and fair competition.

Additionally, the Cabinet commended the signing of agreements and initiatives valued at over SAR38 billion during the Biban Forum 2025 in Riyadh, aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and boosting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Kingdom.

The Cabinet reviewed the findings in the World Bank report regarding the improvement of educational quality in the Kingdom through evaluation and measurement, reflecting the state's commitment to education as a fundamental pillar for human capability development and sustainable economic growth.


Saudi Arabia Raises Military Spending Localization to 24.89%

GAMI governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali during the annual meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GAMI governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali during the annual meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Raises Military Spending Localization to 24.89%

GAMI governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali during the annual meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GAMI governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali during the annual meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced that Saudi Arabia has increased the localization of its military spending to 24.89% by the end of 2024, underscoring continued progress toward the Kingdom’s goal of exceeding 50 percent by 2030.

The announcement was made during the Annual Military Industries Sector Meeting in Riyadh, organized by GAMI under the patronage of its governor, Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, with wide participation from government entities, private firms, and local and international defense companies.

Al-Ohali said in a speech that the achievement is a pivotal milestone in developing the Kingdom’s defense industries, made possible through the support of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as prime minister and chairman of GAMI’s board.

He explained that the sectoral strategy prioritizes building a sustainable local sector with security, developmental, and economic impacts through unified governance, legislative enablers, investment incentives, empowerment of supply chains and small and medium enterprises, and development of national competencies.

He revealed the “National Platform for Military Industries” to provide easy access to sector programs and announced the launch of the “Localization Excellence Award” to encourage military and security entities and industrial companies to adopt best practices and increase local content.

The authority stated that activating the framework agreements for military procurement was introduced to enable beneficiary entities to purchase directly from industrial investors.

This mechanism aims to achieve spending efficiency, increase localization rates, improve product and service quality, unify prices, save time in procurement procedures, and issue direct purchase orders within a defined price range for periods of up to seven years.

According to information shared during the meeting, six framework agreements have been implemented with relevant entities, resulting in purchase orders worth 2.8 billion riyals ($746 million) over four years. These covered areas such as ammunition, systems, equipment, communications, and military devices.

To enhance transparency and accelerate procedural cycles, the authority has made available the “National Platform for Military Industries,” which provides programs, guides, and instructions for investors and suppliers.

It also announced the launch of the “Localization Excellence Award” to honor military entities and industrial organizations that make a significant contribution to local content and adopt best practices.


Hajj Conference in Jeddah Highlights Integration between Public, Private Sectors in Developing Services to Pilgrims 

Officials are seen at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition main session in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition main session in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
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Hajj Conference in Jeddah Highlights Integration between Public, Private Sectors in Developing Services to Pilgrims 

Officials are seen at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition main session in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition main session in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)

The Hajj Conference and Exhibition held its main session in Jeddah on Monday under the title “From Vision to Reality: Integrated Sectors in Serving Pilgrims,” with the participation of Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Pilgrim Experience Program Committee Tawfig Al-Rabiah, Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel, and Director General of Public Security Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami.

The officials reviewed the integration among various public and private sectors and the role of institutional collaboration in developing the Hajj and Umrah service ecosystem, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to streamline procedures and enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims from around the world.

Al-Rabiah highlighted the extensive care, services, and efforts provided by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to pilgrims from across the globe, emphasizing the successes achieved by the conference in its previous editions.

He noted that the current edition, held under the theme “From Makkah to the World,” reflects the wise leadership’s continuous support for developing the Hajj system and achieving Vision 2030 goals to facilitate pilgrims’ journey while enriching their spiritual and human experience.

The Kingdom is witnessing a qualitative transformation in the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem through the adoption of modern technologies and digital solutions to boost service efficiency and ease pilgrims’ experience from arrival to departure, added the minister.

Al-Rabiah also underlined that integration among government entities is the cornerstone for achieving the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the key Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives.

The session concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining intersectoral coordination under Vision 2030 to ensure a unique and seamless experience for pilgrims, reflecting the leadership's unwavering dedication to serving pilgrims and Umrah performers.

The History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques Forum, launched by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) kicked off on Monday on the sidelines of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition.

Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program, the event featured a panel discussion “Digital and Research Projects and the Media Dimension in Serving the Two Holy Mosques.” The talks focused on the pivotal role of digital transformation in boosting and supporting the Hajj and Umrah system.

Assistant Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Planning and Digital Transformation and General Supervisor of the Hajj and Umrah Information Center Eng. Fahad Al-Dosri highlighted the unprecedented digital revolution the world is witnessing, fueled by emerging technologies, smart analytics, and big data applications.

He underscored the importance of digital transformation in the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem, underlining its role in driving digitization, improving the pilgrim experience, and maximizing the economic and social impact of the sector. He noted that adopting advanced digital solutions helps ensure that the Hajj and Umrah journey remains exceptional, spiritual, smooth, and safe.