Gulf Capitals Send Positive Signs on Unity ahead of AlUla Summit

The ruler of Dubai receives the foreign minister of Kuwait. (WAM)
The ruler of Dubai receives the foreign minister of Kuwait. (WAM)
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Gulf Capitals Send Positive Signs on Unity ahead of AlUla Summit

The ruler of Dubai receives the foreign minister of Kuwait. (WAM)
The ruler of Dubai receives the foreign minister of Kuwait. (WAM)

Gulf capitals have during the final months of 2020 urged the need for unity, establishing a positive atmosphere as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council summit next week.

The positive atmosphere was sensed throughout the majority of the capitals as Saudi Arabia dispatched invitations to their leaders to attend Tuesday’s summit in AlUla.

On Thursday, Cairo highlighted the positive signs by underlining the importance of Arab and Gulf unity in order to bolster regional security and stability.

Voices of hope that the Gulf rift will be resolved first emerged in Kuwait in late 2020. It declared in early December that its efforts to resolve the dispute between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt with Qatar have started to bear fruit.

The four countries severed economic and diplomatic ties with Doha in June 2017 over its support and financing of terrorism.

Kuwait continued its efforts on Thursday when its Foreign Minister Ahmad bin Nasser Al Sabah held talks in Dubai with Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed hailed the depth of relations between Kuwait and the UAE, underscoring the pioneering efforts of late Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah in resolving the Gulf row.

He stressed the importance of Gulf unity and solidarity, especially as the region witnesses several major challenges.

The UAE’s leadership, government and people support all efforts to achieve the higher national objectives of GCC countries, he added, according to the WAM news agency.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry stressed on Friday that Cairo backs all sincere efforts to unite Arab and Gulf ranks.

“The reconciliation paves the way for constructive cooperation and preserves the interests of all sides,” said ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez.

The one-day summit will focus on joint Gulf work, securing the region, boosting stability and combating the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.



Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reviewed on Tuesday the Kingdom's ongoing efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and bolster global economic growth. This includes continued cooperation and coordination with producers within the OPEC+ group to maintain stability in oil markets.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah on Tuesday.

He briefed the cabinet on the discussions he held with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the telephone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The cabinet praised the outcomes of the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council, which reflected the strength of bilateral relations and the mutual keenness to elevate them to broader horizons.

It welcomed the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between private-sector entities in both countries, covering clean energy, petrochemical industries, and aviation fuel services, contributing to the shared ambition of establishing an advanced economic partnership.

The cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of the 21st general conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November. The conference aims to develop joint solutions to challenges related to sustainable industrialization, innovation, and technological transformation.

Moreover, the cabinet praised the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of a resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia to protect children in the digital space, stemming from the “Child Protection in Cyberspace” global initiative launched by the Crown Prince.

The move reinforces the initiative's international goals and reflects the Kingdom’s vision through practical steps toward a safe and inclusive digital environment for this age group.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia's continued ranking in the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook’s cybersecurity indicator for 2025, noting that the achievement adds to the series of successes the sector has accomplished in record time across various international levels. It noted the sector’s successes in supporting technological prosperity, localization of priority technologies, and enhancement of international cooperation.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the ICT Development Index 2025 issued by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The achievement confirms the robustness of the Kingdom’s smart digital infrastructure, its attractive investment environment, and the growth of its local digital economy, which has reached SAR495 billion.

The cabinet hailed ongoing successes in combating drug trafficking, including the arrest of criminal networks involved in the trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances in Saudi Arabia. It underscored the continuous security and preventive efforts aimed at protecting the community from this serious issue.