Kuwaiti Emir Orders Opening of Consulate in Najaf

A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
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Kuwaiti Emir Orders Opening of Consulate in Najaf

A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP

In a sign of growing relations between Kuwait and Iraq, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered on Sunday the opening of a consulate in the province of Najaf.

In a statement, Governor of Najaf Louay al-Yasiri said the Emir directed to speed up the procedures for opening the consulate.

“We had the privilege of meeting this morning with the Emir of Kuwait who directed to open a consulate in the Najaf province quickly, as well as his contribution to the construction of specialized and sophisticated medical centers to serve visitors ... between the provinces of Najaf and Karbala,” the governor said.

This came after the Emir received Iraqi Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi and his accompanying delegation at the Bayan Palace.

Discussions focused on ways to invest the funds allocated for the reconstruction of Iraq at the Kuwait International Donors Conference held in February 2018.

"We came to the State of Kuwait with the executive officials in the government to discuss the reconstruction projects of Iraq from the grants that were allocated at the Kuwait International Conference, especially in the field of health and education in all governorates, calling for forming joint committees to study and start implementation,” Halbousi said in a statement released by his office.

The Iraqi Speaker arrived in Kuwait on Saturday on a three-day visit within the framework of mutual efforts to strengthen and expand economic and commercial relations between the two countries.

On Sunday, Halbousi also held talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah.

The Speaker expressed Iraq's keenness to stabilize the region, reduce tension and avoid conflict.

Kuwait’s Emir made a landmark visit to Baghdad on June 19 for consultations to boost relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.



Saudi Arabia, Arab and Islamic Countries Condemn Israel’s 'State Land' Decision in West Bank 

The West Bank village of al-Ram is pictured behind Israel's controversial separation barrier from the outskirts of Jerusalem on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
The West Bank village of al-Ram is pictured behind Israel's controversial separation barrier from the outskirts of Jerusalem on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia, Arab and Islamic Countries Condemn Israel’s 'State Land' Decision in West Bank 

The West Bank village of al-Ram is pictured behind Israel's controversial separation barrier from the outskirts of Jerusalem on February 16, 2026. (AFP)
The West Bank village of al-Ram is pictured behind Israel's controversial separation barrier from the outskirts of Jerusalem on February 16, 2026. (AFP)

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye strongly condemned on Tuesday Israel's decision to designate lands in the occupied West Bank as so-called "state land".

They also slammed it for approving procedures for the registration and settlement of land ownership across extensive areas of the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967.

They condemned the moves as “a grave escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land confiscation, entrenching Israeli control, and applying unlawful Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

These measures are “a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2334,” the FMs said in a statement.

“The decision also contradicts the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice concerning the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which underscored the illegality of measures intended to alter the legal, historical, and demographic status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the obligation to end the occupation, and the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force,” they added.

“This step reflects an attempt to impose a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over the occupied land, thereby undermining the two-state solution, eroding the prospects for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State, and jeopardizing the attainment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region,” they warned.

The foreign ministers reiterated their “categorical rejection of all unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal, demographic, and historical status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

They stressed that such policies are “a dangerous escalation that will further heighten tensions and instability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region as a whole.”

They called on the international community “to assume its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to halt these violations, ensure respect for international law, and safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination, ending the occupation, and establishing their independent and sovereign State based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”


Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Inspects Ramadan Service Readiness at Two Holy Mosques 

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Board Chairman of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Tawfig Al-Rabiah during the inspection tour on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Board Chairman of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Tawfig Al-Rabiah during the inspection tour on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Inspects Ramadan Service Readiness at Two Holy Mosques 

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Board Chairman of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Tawfig Al-Rabiah during the inspection tour on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Board Chairman of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Tawfig Al-Rabiah during the inspection tour on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Board Chairman of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Tawfig Al-Rabiah carried out on Monday a field inspection tour to assess operational and service readiness for the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque, Prophet’s Mosque, and several other service sites in the holy city of Makkah.

Accompanied by the authority’s CEO Eng. Ghazi Al-Shahrani, the tour included a review of field operations, crowd management plans, and the flow of Umrah performers and worshippers.

It addressed coordination and integration mechanisms among relevant entities, as part of ongoing efforts by the ministry, the authority, and partner organizations serving pilgrims.

Al-Rabiah stressed that these efforts are carried out in line with the directives of the Kingdom's leadership and reflect the country's commitment to caring for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.

The level of readiness and the services provided during Ramadan are part of ongoing development efforts and they support the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to boost the quality of services and the overall experience of pilgrims, he added.


SDRPY, EU Sign Strategic Partnership to Improve Living Conditions in Yemen 

Officials are seen at the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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SDRPY, EU Sign Strategic Partnership to Improve Living Conditions in Yemen 

Officials are seen at the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and European Union announced on Monday the alignment of their efforts to improve livelihoods in Yemen.

These efforts focus on investment in economic recovery programs and reforms, job creation, strengthening state institutions, and boosting community resilience, including in the areas of food security, agriculture, electricity, water, and environmental sanitation.

Their strategic partnership is in line with efforts to strengthen international cooperation to support Yemen.

Supporting improved access to water in the Marib governorate is the first outcome of the strategic partnership.

The two parties signed in Riyadh an agreement with the SILA Foundation to implement a SAR9-million project, “Enhancing Water Security in Marib Governorate,” covering nine areas across the districts of Marib Al-Wadi, Marib City, and Harib. Over 350,000 people will benefit from the project.

The agreement reflects the parties’ commitment to joint action and continuous coordination to improve living conditions for all Yemenis.

The SDRPY and EU agreed to continue coordination and explore additional opportunities for cooperation in the water sector, as well as joint development projects and initiatives in other sectors.