Renewed Gulf Support for Yemen’s Reforms Amid Tough Economic Challenges

Al-Alimi meets with Ambassador al-Minaikher at the Maashiq Palace in Aden. (Government media)
Al-Alimi meets with Ambassador al-Minaikher at the Maashiq Palace in Aden. (Government media)
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Renewed Gulf Support for Yemen’s Reforms Amid Tough Economic Challenges

Al-Alimi meets with Ambassador al-Minaikher at the Maashiq Palace in Aden. (Government media)
Al-Alimi meets with Ambassador al-Minaikher at the Maashiq Palace in Aden. (Government media)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi and Prime Minister Salem bin Braik reaffirmed the central role of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in stabilizing Yemen’s economy, advancing reforms, and helping the country recover from the damage caused by the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Speaking in the interim capital, Aden, the officials met separately with the GCC ambassador to Yemen, Sarhan al-Minaikher, focusing on comprehensive reforms, economic recovery, and strengthening state institutions.

According to Yemen’s state media, al-Alimi and the ambassador reviewed political and economic developments, including progress on government reforms and their recent impact on the Yemeni riyal.

Al-Alimi stressed that fiscal and monetary improvements require continued Gulf and international support to consolidate gains and move toward sustained recovery.

He expressed deep appreciation for the GCC’s longstanding backing of Yemen’s constitutional legitimacy, describing Gulf assistance as the country’s first line of defense against threats to its identity and national economy.

Bin Braik likewise emphasized the GCC’s crucial role in supporting Yemen’s “courageous” economic and institutional reforms, pursued despite the war and the Houthis’ obstructionist policies.

Al-Minaikher, for his part, conveyed the greetings of GCC Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi and reiterated the Council’s full support for Yemen’s economic reform agenda.

The two also discussed future partnership initiatives, including follow-up to Aden’s First National Energy Conference, which outlined a national vision to address Yemen’s chronic electricity crisis.

Bin Braik said Yemen is counting on GCC partners to help develop sustainable energy projects, upgrade power infrastructure, and introduce technologies that reduce production costs and improve grid efficiency, limiting the Houthis’ ability to use electricity as a political tool.

Al-Minaikher stressed the GCC’s commitment to supporting the reforms, noting that early indicators are “promising and worth building upon.”



Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
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Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)

Libya’s Government of National Unity has called for strengthening partnerships with Saudi Arabia in development projects.

The appeal came during a meeting on Thursday between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Amiantit Group.

The group is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacturing of pipes and tanks, offering innovative solutions for water management and infrastructure.

The meeting was also attended by a representative of Technical Link Services for Communications (TLS), a subsidiary of Etihad Salam Telecommunications, which specializes in communications and information technology solutions.

Discussions centered on strengthening Libyan-Saudi cooperation to advance infrastructure projects, stimulate investment in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and expand prospects for collaboration.

The meeting followed agreements with Libya’s Ministry of Housing and Construction on water infrastructure, specialized factories, and advanced water treatment solutions.

The agreements also included deals that aim to upgrade Libya’s communications infrastructure and modernize its IT and telecom services.

In January, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dbeibah had outlined Libya’s vision to strengthen cooperation with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia to attract international investment across various economic and development sectors.

He discussed with several Saudi officials ways to reinforce bilateral partnerships in oil, gas, and renewable energy, highlighting Saudi Arabia as a key partner in developing Libya’s oil infrastructure.


Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
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Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)

A Saudi-Emirati team arrived in Yemen’s interim capital Aden on an urgent mission to put in place executive mechanisms for the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces from the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and returning them under the control of previous forces under the direct supervision of the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

The team will discuss arrangements related to the handover of positions to the National Shield Forces to ensure that the situation returns to the way it was before the escalation.

The step is in line with Saudi Arabia’s intense efforts to end the escalation in eastern Yemen, in rejection of any unilateral measures taken by the STC in Hadhramaut, which the coalition viewed as an attempt to impose a new status quo or drag the province into internal strife that threatens peace and stability.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrival of the team consolidates Riyadh’s rejection of activities that may create mistrust or deepen the divisions inside Yemen’s legitimate institutions.


UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
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UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and his accompanying delegation visited on Friday Saudi Arabia’s Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh.

He met with DGA Governor Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan. Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil was also present during the visit.

The officials discussed issues of mutual interest, including digital government development, support for innovation, and the enhancement of sustainable digital transformation ecosystems. They reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in digital enablement to support the Sustainable Development Goals and improve government sector efficiency.

The meeting addressed avenues for cooperation between the DGA and UN organizations, particularly in knowledge exchange, the development of digital standards, the enablement of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, the enhancement of digital capabilities, and the building of partnerships to improve the quality of digital services internationally.

Guterres was briefed on the DGA Innovation Hub, which houses a range of specialized laboratories and facilities, such as the Digital Inclusion Lab, Service Design Lab, Learning Experience Lab, and AI and Emerging Technologies Lab, along with other resources supporting innovation and the development of government digital solutions.

The DGA team presented an overview of the Kingdom's digital government strategy and progress in UN e-government development indicators, reflecting the maturity of the national digital experience and the advancement of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure.

Guterres commended the Kingdom's qualitative progress in digital government, stressing that the level achieved represents a leading international model and reflects a clear commitment to developing innovative and effective government services.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation to support initiatives that foster an advanced digital future in service of global development.