Saudi Arabia Launches ‘Health Passport’

Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reveals the 'health passport' service. (SPA)
Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reveals the 'health passport' service. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches ‘Health Passport’

Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reveals the 'health passport' service. (SPA)
Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reveals the 'health passport' service. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia launched on Thursday the “health passport” service through the Tawakkalna app.

The app was approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The service confirms that an individual has received all doses of the virus vaccine and was therefore “immune” from it.

The move is a significant step by Saudi authorities in protecting lives, said Health Minister spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali.

Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and head of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi oversaw the launch of the service.

Al-Rabiah received on Thursday the second jab of the vaccine, hailing the keenness of the Saudi leadership in providing the shots in the Kingdom and its people and residents in record time.

This has made Saudi Arabia among the top countries in fighting the pandemic, he stressed.

Work is underway to open more vaccination stations so that they will be available throughout the country, he revealed.

Over 137,000 people have received the vaccine. Over a million people are registered to receive the shot during the first phase of inoculation.

Saudi Arabia reported on Thursday 108 new infections, taking its total to 363,485. It confirmed 138 more recoveries and six new deaths.



GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts from Central Asia discussed in Kuwait on Wednesday consolidating cooperation in several fields.

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue focused on enhancing the strong relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries and discussed a joint action plan to advance cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.
Preparations were also reviewed for the upcoming summit between the GCC and Central Asian countries, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month. This summit follows the inaugural one held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attended the meeting.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said the meeting marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi after the meeting, Al-Yahya, current President of the GCC Ministerial Council, highlighted the growing historical, cultural, and human ties between the two regions, and emphasized the shared political will to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The meeting focused on several key areas of priority, including enhancing economic and trade cooperation, encouraging investment, and developing sectors such as transport and energy, clean energy transitions, green economies, and modern technologies, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Discussions also focused on food and water security, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, aiming to support stability and sustainable development.

On political and security matters, the foreign minister stressed the importance of consultation and coordination on shared challenges, especially in combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats, and praised the GCC Secretariat for its role in advancing joint action mechanisms.

Regarding regional and international issues, Al-Yahya reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On his part, Al-Budaiwi said that both the GCC and Central Asian states are committed to advancing cooperation across various sectors, as outlined in the Joint Action Plan for 2023-27.

He stated that the meeting included an exchange of views on regional and global developments, particularly the Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people, and reiterated the GCC's rejection of these violations and called on the international community to act decisively in support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state.