Saudi Crown Prince Hails Outcomes of Gulf, Arab-Islamic Summits in Doha

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Doha summit on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Doha summit on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Hails Outcomes of Gulf, Arab-Islamic Summits in Doha

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Doha summit on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the Doha summit on Monday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, hailed on Monday the outcomes of the urgent Arab-Islamic and the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Doha. 

Arab and Islamic states were meeting on Monday to address the Israeli attack on Doha last week that targeted Hamas leaders.   

In a cable to Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Crown Prince Mohammed praised the summits that underlined the participating countries’ support to Doha against the “heinous Israeli attack.” 

The summits also categorically rejected Israel’s violation of international laws and norms. 

Crown Prince Mohammed wished Sheikh Tamim “continued good health and happiness and the fraternal Qatari people security and prosperity.” 

Crown Prince took part in the summits at the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. 

The Israeli attack came as Qatar serves as a key mediator in an effort to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza war, something Doha insisted it will continue to do even after the assault.    

Since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Israel has retaliated against the armed group and others in Iran's so-called “Axis of Resistance.” Israel has launched strikes in Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Qatar and Yemen. That's led to a wider anger by Middle East nations already enraged by the over 64,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza.   

The Doha summit reflects the solidarity of Arab and Islamic countries with Qatar and their firm stances in protecting their sovereignty and readiness to do all that is needed to defend their nations.  

Crown Prince Mohammed met on the sidelines of the summit with Jordan's King Abdullah II, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif. 



Makkah Police Arrest Resident over Fraudulent Hajj Ads

 A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Makkah Police Arrest Resident over Fraudulent Hajj Ads

 A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Makkah Region police arrested an Egyptian resident for fraud after posting advertisements on social media offering fake permits to enter the holy sites and fraudulent Hajj services, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

Legal action was taken against him and he was referred to the Public Prosecution.

The General Directorate of Public Security urged citizens and residents to adhere to Hajj regulations and guidelines and to report violators.

On Tuesday, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the penalties that will be imposed on violators of the regulations requiring a permit to perform Hajj.

A fine of up to SAR20,000 will be imposed on any individual found performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit.

A fine of up to SAR100,000 will be imposed on any person who applies for the issuance of a visit visa of any type for an individual who performs or attempts to perform Hajj without a permit.

Infiltrators, including residents and those who overstay their visas, will be deported back to their countries and banned them from entering the Kingdom for 10 years.


Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief Distributes 29,000 Hot Meals in Gaza

KSrelief distributed 29,000 hot meals to the most vulnerable families in central and southern Gaza Strip. (SPA)
KSrelief distributed 29,000 hot meals to the most vulnerable families in central and southern Gaza Strip. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief Distributes 29,000 Hot Meals in Gaza

KSrelief distributed 29,000 hot meals to the most vulnerable families in central and southern Gaza Strip. (SPA)
KSrelief distributed 29,000 hot meals to the most vulnerable families in central and southern Gaza Strip. (SPA)

The central kitchen operated by Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed 29,000 hot meals to the most vulnerable families in central and southern Gaza Strip, as part of the Saudi public campaign to provide relief to the Palestinian people, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

This initiative demonstrates the Kingdom’s dedication, through KSrelief, to supporting the Palestinian people in times of crisis.

On Monday, KSrelief distributed 1,196 food baskets to the most vulnerable groups in Gaza's city of Khan Younis, benefiting 7,176 individuals.


Saudi Arabia Pledges $3 Billion More in Financial Support to Pakistan

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb shake hands following the agreement. (X)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb shake hands following the agreement. (X)
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Saudi Arabia Pledges $3 Billion More in Financial Support to Pakistan

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb shake hands following the agreement. (X)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb shake hands following the agreement. (X)

Saudi Arabia will provide $3 billion in additional support for Pakistan to help the South Asian nation bridge a multi-billion-dollar gap in its finances linked to an upcoming debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates.

The extra funding for Pakistan comes on top of Riyadh extending the rollover arrangement for an additional $5 billion deposit for a longer period, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told reporters in Washington.

The move underlines a deepening relationship between Riyadh and Islamabad, cemented last year by a mutual defense pact treating aggression against either ‌as an attack ‌on both.

"We can confirm that Saudi Arabia has ‌agreed ⁠to a $3 billion deposit ⁠with Pakistan to support their balance of payments," a Saudi Ministry of Finance spokesperson told Reuters.

Pakistan faces a $3.5 billion repayment to the UAE this month that has put a strain on its foreign exchange reserves, which stood at about $16.4 billion as of March 27.

The repayment to the UAE amounts to roughly 18% of those holdings.

Under Pakistan's $7 billion IMF program, the country is targeting foreign exchange reserves of more than $18 billion ⁠by June.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan was in Pakistan on Friday .

"Senator Aurangzeb said this ‌support comes at a critical time for Pakistan’s external financing needs and would ‌help reinforce foreign exchange reserves and strengthen the country’s external account," the finance ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that Pakistan is committed to maintaining foreign exchange reserves "in line with its obligations to markets and under the IMF-supported program".

Pakistan's international bonds rallied on the news, ‌with longer-dated maturities adding nearly 1 cent to trade at their strongest level since late February.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stepped in to support Pakistan during periods of economic stress. In 2018, Riyadh unveiled a $6 billion package that included a $3 billion deposit at Pakistan's central bank and $3 billion in oil supplies on deferred payment.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has emerged as the key mediator between the US and Iran to end the war in the Middle East while also shoring up Saudi Arabia's defenses after the Kingdom came under hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Last week, Pakistan deployed fighter jets and support aircraft to Saudi Arabia.