Saudi Arabia Backs Palestinian Treasury with $90 Million

Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan and Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Estephan Salameh meet at the Saudi embassy in Amman. (WAFA)

Amman: Asharq Al Awsat

05:43-2 December 2025 AD ـ 11 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1447 AH

Amman: Asharq Al Awsat

05:43-2 December 2025 AD ـ 11 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1447 AH

Saudi Arabia Backs Palestinian Treasury with $90 Million

Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan and Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Estephan Salameh meet at the Saudi embassy in Amman. (WAFA)

Saudi Arabia presented on Monday the Palestinian treasury with new financial support in the form of $90 million as part of the Kingdom’s ongoing backing of the Palestinian government in 2025.

The new tranche was presented by Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan to Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Estephan Salameh at the Saudi embassy in Amman.

Prince Mansour said the latest support is part of the Kingdom’s keenness on supporting the Palestinian government and enabling it to meet its financial commitments.

He underlined the importance of bolstering the Palestinian people’s resilience, easing their suffering against economic and humanitarian challenges and supporting vitals sectors, especially health and education.

He underscored Saudi Arabia’s firm and historic commitment in supporting the Palestinian people and their just and legitimate right in the establishment of an independent state. He noted Riyadh’s efforts to that end through its chairing with France in July of the high-level international conference in New York in support of the Palestinian cause and the implementation of the two-state solution.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for supporting the Palestinian treasury.

In a post on the X platform, he said the latest grant will help tackle economic and financial challenges facing the Palestinians.

He also expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

Salameh, for his part, hailed Saudi Arabia’s support, underlining its importance in easing the economic crisis endured by Palestine due to the latest Israeli policies.

Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah

Jeddah: Asharq Al Awsat

19:22-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Jeddah: Asharq Al Awsat

19:22-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah

Saudi authorities on Wednesday reviewed preparedness for this year’s Hajj season, assessing operational plans and readiness indicators as officials called for intensified coordination ahead of the annual pilgrimage.

The permanent Hajj and Umrah committee, chaired by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, examined scenarios already implemented and others planned to ensure full readiness, in a meeting held under directives from Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Saud bin Mishaal thanked agencies involved in the Ramadan Umrah season, citing extensive logistical and human support from the Saudi leadership that helped deliver smooth operations for visitors to the Grand Mosque.

Officials reviewed Ramadan performance across transport, ambulance and healthcare services, reporting no epidemics or incidents.

The meeting also covered the departure phase of Umrah performers via King Abdulaziz International Airport, and progress on upgrading the Hajj and Umrah terminal complex, with its first and second phases completed.

In Madinah, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz chaired a parallel meeting of the regional Hajj and Umrah committee, attended by his deputy, Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, to review government preparations for the upcoming season.

Prince Salman congratulated agencies on the success of Ramadan operations, saying coordinated plans enabled visitors to perform rituals in a calm and secure environment.

He said the results reflect sustained leadership support for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, highlighting oversight by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz to enhance services and ensure safety.

He stressed the need for full readiness across government, service and volunteer sectors, calling for proactive planning and stronger coordination to reinforce facilities and services in line with the care provided to pilgrims.

The Madinah meeting issued recommendations to support relevant entities and ensure high-quality services for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque during Hajj.

Prince Salman was also briefed by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah, accompanied by Pilgrim Experience Program CEO Mohammed Ismail, on a digital dashboard designed to track the readiness of Hajj projects and improve coordination.

Al-Rabiah said the platform enables continuous monitoring through daily updates, including readiness plans and performance indicators, project progress in the holy sites, alignment of operational plans, and integration with a central database.

Prince Salman also reviewed the Hajj and Umrah sector’s indicators platform, which presents real-time data and analysis on services provided to pilgrims. The platform supports decision-making by delivering timely, precise data, enhancing monitoring efficiency and strengthening system-wide readiness within an integrated institutional framework.

Gulf

UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

Asharq Al Awsat

15:30-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

15:30-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

The UAE air defenses on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The agency said that, since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.

A WAM statement said the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as nine civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.

A total of 190 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, from various nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian and Indian.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and stability and protects its interests and national capabilities.