Saudi Arabia, Qatar Work to Revive Joint Business Council

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
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Saudi Arabia, Qatar Work to Revive Joint Business Council

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

The private sector in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar is actively working to revive the joint business council, in a step that follows the restoration of the political and economic relations between the two countries that marked Al-Ula GCC Summit earlier this year.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Council of Saudi Chambers has informed the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the regions of the Kingdom to open candidacies for the membership of the Joint Saudi-Qatari Business Council, calling on those wishing to participate to review the special conditions and submit the dedicated forms, along with their resume and other required documents.

On a different note, the Union of Arab Chambers addressed a letter to the Council of Saudi Chambers, announcing the intention of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, to organize a virtual Qatar exhibition early next March.

According to the letter, the exhibition is an opportunity for international companies to participate with their Qatari counterparts through the electronic platform to exchange experiences and form partnerships in various sectors of construction, packaging, electrical appliances, and food.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has recently launched the new system of the Chambers of Commerce, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, to facilitate the start and practice of commercial work, develop the functioning of the chambers through performance indicators and raise their efficiency in accordance with international best practices.

The system also aims to strengthen strategic partnerships that would allow the development of economic activities in all regions, and raise the competitiveness of the business sector.

The ministry noted that the system seeks to unify efforts to serve the private sector by establishing chambers or branches according to administrative regions. It also allows foreign investors to be members of the boards of directors of the chambers.

The new system has given the council several missions, the most important of which is the representation of the chambers of commerce in the various commercial activities at the national and international level.



Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty
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Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

The Muslim World League (MWL) has affirmed its full support for the supplementary statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding recent escalatory actions by the Southern Transitional Council in the Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates.

The league also expressed its support for the statement from the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen concerning the unauthorized movement of ships carrying weapons and heavy vehicles from the Port of Fujairah to the Port of Mukalla, SPA reported.

These shipments were reportedly transported without the necessary official permits from the coalition’s Joint Forces Command. The MWL emphasized its unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its national security.

In an official statement released by the General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Organization of Muslim Scholars Chairman Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa commended the decisive and wise content of the Saudi statement.

Speaking on behalf of the league’s global assemblies and councils, Al-Issa noted that these measures are vital to ensuring peace, security, and the unity of the Yemeni people under their internationally recognized leadership.

Al-Issa highlighted that the priority remains preserving stability in Yemen and the broader region. He noted that outstanding issues, including the Southern cause, must be resolved through dialogue within established legal and legitimate frameworks.

Furthermore, he warned that supporting illegitimate practices only deepens internal divisions and serves those who do not have Yemen’s best interests at heart. He cautioned that any further steps deviating from the legitimate path would only ignite sedition, the heavy cost of which would be borne by the Yemeni people.

Concluding the statement, Al-Issa called upon all Yemeni parties to prioritize wisdom and the national interest. He urged them to unite under their legitimate leadership to preserve the country's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, paving the way for a secure and prosperous future for Yemen.


President of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Nullifies Joint Defense Agreement with UAE

Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
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President of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Nullifies Joint Defense Agreement with UAE

Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)

President of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi issued a presidential decree on Tuesday nullifying the joint defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates, based on the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the decision on the transfer of power, the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the powers granted to it under the constitution, according to the Yemen News Agency (Saba).

Article Two of the decree mandates that all UAE forces and personnel withdraw from Yemeni territory within 24 hours, according to SPA.

Article Three instructs the Homeland Shield forces to assume control of all military camps in Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates.


Yemeni Government Commends Saudi Historic Stance and Its Leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Yemeni Government Commends Saudi Historic Stance and Its Leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Yemeni government commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's historic and steadfast stances, highlighting its crucial role in ensuring Yemen's security and stability.

The government acknowledged Saudi Arabia's leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy and its ongoing commitment to protecting civilians, de-escalating tensions, and preventing the eastern governorates from being drawn into conflicts that serve hostile agendas, SPA reported.

In an official statement, the government called on the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahara. It urged the council to hand over all locations and camps to the Homeland Shield Forces and local authorities in these governorates, to adhere to the terms of reference of the transitional phase, and to cease all military or escalatory actions that threaten local security and undermine de-escalation efforts.

The statement, which was reported by the Yemen News Agency (Saba), expressed the government's full support for the decisions made by President of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, who is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

This includes declaring a state of emergency across Yemen and taking necessary sovereign measures to protect local security, preserve the unity and sovereignty of the state, and maintain its legal status in light of the dangerous developments in Yemen's eastern governorates.

The government stated: "The declaration of a state of emergency is grounded in the constitution and the references of the transitional phase, based on the recommendations of the National Defense Council.

It is a legitimate constitutional measure necessitated by our national duty to confront armed rebellion, protect civil peace, and prevent a descent into chaos that could undermine state institutions."