Saudi Govt: Crown Prince Mohammed’s Visit to US Bolsters the Strategic Partnership

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt: Crown Prince Mohammed’s Visit to US Bolsters the Strategic Partnership

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government said on Tuesday the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States aims to strengthen bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries across various fields, while striving to achieve their shared vision for a secure and stable Middle East.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh.

The Cabinet reviewed the two messages received by the Crown Prince from South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Cabinet discussed the Kingdom's participation in regional and international meetings, reiterating Saudi Arabia's emphasis at the 42nd meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interior Ministers on the importance of integrated joint action to confront security challenges.

This commitment aims to protect homelands and societies while boosting opportunities for development and prosperity in the region.

The Cabinet commended the Kingdom's global pronouncements in the tourism sector, most notably the Riyadh Declaration adopted during the 26th session of the United Nations Tourism Organization General Assembly. The declaration serves as a roadmap for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the sector and is considered a key driver of national growth.

The Cabinet expressed its appreciation for the Crown Prince’s patronage of the fourth edition of the Global AI Summit that will be held in the Kingdom in 2026. The patronage is part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to make innovation and digital transformation fundamental pillars for building a sustainable and globally competitive knowledge-based economy.

The Cabinet praised the Digital Government Forum held in Riyadh, which showcased innovative and high-quality initiatives supported by artificial intelligence technologies. It also commended the significant progress made by government entities in measuring digital transformation and the adequacy of digital content for 2025, reflecting the continued development of services provided to citizens, residents, and visitors.

The Cabinet praised the integration of national efforts in developing local content and contributing to raising the localization rate of military spending to 24.89% by the end of 2024, thus reinforcing the continuous progress in the localization process in this sector to reach more than 50% by 2030.



GCC Secretary-General Affirms Gulf Stability as a Cornerstone of Global Stability

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
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GCC Secretary-General Affirms Gulf Stability as a Cornerstone of Global Stability

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi stressed during a working session before the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) that Gulf–European relations are more important than ever amid current regional and international challenges, and called for elevating them from consultation to a more practical partnership, SPA reported.

Albudaiwi, who is holding a series of meetings with senior officials in Brussels, explained that recent security developments in the region, along with threats to maritime routes, supply chains, and energy and food security, confirm that Gulf stability is not merely a regional matter, but a fundamental element of global stability.

He emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and secure under international law, particularly UNCLOS (1982).

He also praised the EU’s condemnation of Iranian attacks on GCC states and its efforts to contain escalation through urgent diplomatic engagement.


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.