Saudi, Omani Interior Ministers Tour Empty Quarter Crossing

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, and his Omani counterpart Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, tour on Monday the Empty Quarter crossing. (Oman News Agency)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, and his Omani counterpart Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, tour on Monday the Empty Quarter crossing. (Oman News Agency)
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Saudi, Omani Interior Ministers Tour Empty Quarter Crossing

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, and his Omani counterpart Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, tour on Monday the Empty Quarter crossing. (Oman News Agency)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, and his Omani counterpart Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, tour on Monday the Empty Quarter crossing. (Oman News Agency)

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, and his Omani counterpart Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, toured on Monday the Empty Quarter border checkpoint, connecting the Kingdom and Sultanate.

The new crossing cuts the distance between Saudi Arabia and Oman by about 800 km, therefore, creating trade and investment opportunities between the neighbors.

During their tour, the ministers unveiled two commemorative plaques, and then inspected the work progress and services provided at the crossing. They later watched a visual presentation on the projects implemented by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

The checkpoint, which was opened on December 7, 2021, will deepen relations and enhances social communication.

It will boost shipping and the movement of goods, resulting in the increase of trade exchange between the two countries.

It will also support activities in various economic, tourism and investment sectors.

On the sidelines of the visit, the ministers reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on cooperation-related areas, reported the Omani news agency.

Several officials from both sides were present during the visit, including the Inspector General of Police and Customs, the Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technology and the ambassadors of the two countries.



Saudi Arabia, Spain Sign Agreement to Build Naval Combat Vessels for Saudi Naval Forces

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Spain Sign Agreement to Build Naval Combat Vessels for Saudi Naval Forces

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed on Tuesday an executive agreement with its Spanish counterpart to support the construction of three new Avante 2200 corvettes entailing collaboration in training, exchanging experience, and providing technical and logistical support to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels.

Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharibi and Spanish Admiral General Antonio Pineiro Sanchez jointly endorsed the agreement at the Spanish Naval Staff headquarters.

The agreement aims to deepen ties between the defense ministries, facilitating the augmentation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' capabilities through the construction and provision of three additional Avante 2200 corvettes.

These enhanced assets are set to fortify naval readiness in safeguarding Saudi Arabia, protecting its vital interests, and bolstering maritime security in the region, aligning with the strategic aims of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Moreover, the agreement covers technical assistance from the Spanish Naval Forces throughout the construction phases, encompassing system inspection, testing, crew training, and operational post-delivery and commissioning for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The three new vessels mirror the technical and combat specifications of the five vessels from the initial phase of the Sarawat project delivered to the naval forces. Equipped with state-of-the-art combat and engineering systems, they are designed to effectively address air, surface, and subsurface threats.