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Saudi Arabia Urges Arab Countries to Join Anti-Corruption Network Effectively

Attendees at the Arab Forum for Promoting International Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption (Photo: Saleh Bashir)
Attendees at the Arab Forum for Promoting International Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption (Photo: Saleh Bashir)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Arab Countries to Join Anti-Corruption Network Effectively

Attendees at the Arab Forum for Promoting International Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption (Photo: Saleh Bashir)
Attendees at the Arab Forum for Promoting International Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption (Photo: Saleh Bashir)

The Riyadh Initiative (GlobE Network) seeks to achieve the common goals of Arab countries and the interests of developing countries in combating corruption, announced Nasser Abu al-Khail, Assistant Chairman of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha).

Aba al-Khail told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Initiative had entered into force after being approved by G20 leaders and was welcomed by the General Assembly in New York during its meeting on combating corruption last June.

Riyadh hosted the Arab Forum for Promoting International Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption as part of the 4th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Arab Convention against Corruption.

The Forum urged the Arab countries to effectively participate in the GlobE Network to link anti-corruption law enforcement agencies, stressing the importance of integrating the network and other international anti-corruption networks.

It will help countries evaluate the progress made in anti-corruption efforts and help develop the objective international indexes to measure corruption.

Aba al-Khail recalled that the decision seeks to increase support for the Initiative to achieve its goals after submitting a draft resolution to the member states of the UN Convention against Corruption.

He noted that the Forum represents a significant shift in fighting corruption and the recovery of public funds and assets.

Aba al-Khail added that the Forum discussed several related topics and was concluded with several recommendations and proposals, emphasizing the importance of boosting joint Arab action in combating corruption.

He stressed that the Initiative has entered into force after it was approved during the G20 meeting headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in November 2020.

The 4th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Arab Convention against Corruption concluded Tuesday, with the participation of ministers of anti-corruption ministries in 14 Arab League member states and the presence of several international and regional organizations.

In his opening speech, President of Nazaha Mazin al-Kahmous welcomed the attendees and participants in the Forum and announced that Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with the UN and the Arab League during 2021 to develop a new mechanism for implementing the Arab Convention against Corruption.

Kahmous called on anti-corruption agencies to join the network of the Riyadh Global Initiative and work with Saudi Arabia, which focuses on reviewing current corruption measurement tools aiming to build a new methodology that can develop a new international index.

He added that establishing GlobE Network has come at the right time, especially with the development in the patterns of corruption crimes and corrupted people's utilization of weak cooperation and low levels of exchanging information among anti-corruption apparatuses around the world.

During the forum sessions, international and regional anti-corruption experts revealed that the Saudi approach to activate diplomacy and support efforts to recover public funds is essential to increase the efficiency of law enforcement authorities in combating corruption.

They reiterated the importance of GlobE in promoting International and judicial cooperation, capacity building and overcoming obstacles to recover assets, and enhancing integration with other international networks.

Executive Secretary of Egmont Group Jerome Beaumont emphasized that technical and procedural solutions could not work effectively without political will.

He noted that Saudi efforts in these forums and initiatives are necessary to encourage practical diplomatic work, adding that international groups contribute to providing a secure platform for exchanging information. It also allows financial intelligence to exchange information and other units to communicate in record time.

For his part, UN Crime Prevention Officer Badr al-Banna said GlobE Initiative assists anti-corruption law enforcement authorities and other international networks in protecting the integrity and fighting corruption.

Also at the Forum, Deputy Head of the International Corruption Unit within UK's Crime Agency David Liebscher said the Riyadh Initiative solves the issue of countries' slow response, the overlap of agencies, and lack of experts in digital currencies and money laundering.

It also helps experts to support investigations and track stolen assets and public funds, according to Liebscher.

Europol's Specialist Asset Recovery Marcella van Berkel said that recovering stolen public funds and assets is a complex issue and requires specialized judicial and legal experts.

The expert called for fruitful cooperation between countries, noting that the various anti-corruption and asset recovery agencies are dealing with a new pattern of assets, such as digital currencies.

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Gulf

Kuwait Says Iran Attacked Power and Water Desalination Plant, Causing Damage

Vehicles drive along a highway on the outskirts of Kuwait City on July 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Vehicles drive along a highway on the outskirts of Kuwait City on July 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Kuwait Says Iran Attacked Power and Water Desalination Plant, Causing Damage

Vehicles drive along a highway on the outskirts of Kuwait City on July 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Vehicles drive along a highway on the outskirts of Kuwait City on July 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Kuwait said Friday that Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant, causing widespread damage to the station.

Kuwait’s Electricity Water and Renewable Energy Ministry announced the attack, saying it sparked a fire and “damage to a large number of electricity generation units.”

Kuwait said it extinguished the blaze and was working to assess the damage and get the station working again.

Gulf

Qatar Says Child Injured as Missile Attack Intercepted

A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Qatar Says Child Injured as Missile Attack Intercepted

A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)

Qatar announced Friday that its army had intercepted a missile attack, with falling debris injuring a child.

"The Ministry of Defense... announces that the armed forces have intercepted a missile attack that targeted the State of Qatar," the ministry wrote on X.

A child was injured by falling debris after the interception, the interior ministry later reported.

Iran has targeted several Gulf countries since hostilities with the United States resumed on July 7, claiming to be aiming at American military installations.

Qatar, a mediator in talks with the United States alongside Pakistan and host to the largest American base in the Middle East, was targeted on Sunday for the first time since the April truce.

Gulf

Iranian Attacks on Gulf Intensify, Kuwait Bears Brunt

Smoke rises near Kuwait International Airport after a drone strike targeted a fuel depot. (File photo/AFP)
Smoke rises near Kuwait International Airport after a drone strike targeted a fuel depot. (File photo/AFP)
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Iranian Attacks on Gulf Intensify, Kuwait Bears Brunt

Smoke rises near Kuwait International Airport after a drone strike targeted a fuel depot. (File photo/AFP)
Smoke rises near Kuwait International Airport after a drone strike targeted a fuel depot. (File photo/AFP)

Iranian attacks on Gulf states have intensified sharply in recent days, with Kuwait bearing the brunt as fighting between the United States and Iran resumed and tensions rose in the Strait of Hormuz.

From the renewed escalation last Wednesday through early Thursday, Kuwaiti forces detected about 77 hostile drones and 18 missiles in the country’s airspace, according to an Asharq Al-Awsat tally.

The missiles included eight ballistic missiles and 10 cruise missiles. Kuwaiti forces intercepted or otherwise dealt with the threats.

The latest attacks stood out for causing casualties and damage.

Kuwait said several Iranian strikes targeted vital facilities and scattered debris across multiple locations, causing material damage and injuring six people, including four members of the Kuwaiti armed forces.

Three land border posts in northern Kuwait were also attacked, causing further damage and one injury.

Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah checks on the health condition of those injured as a result of the Iranian aggression. KUNA

Kuwait’s consulate general in the southern Iraqi city of Basra was targeted again on Monday.

Kuwait condemned the attack and acknowledged the Iraqi government’s efforts to confront such incidents. It also called for “immediate and decisive” action to hold those responsible accountable and prevent a recurrence.

The continued attacks drew broad condemnation and expressions of solidarity from Gulf states.

Calls to strike back at launch sites

Academic and political researcher Ayed al-Manaa said Gulf Cooperation Council states should prepare for further Iranian retaliation following US attacks.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Manaa urged Gulf states to respond to the sources of fire rather than remain on the defensive.

He said the escalation showed that Tehran had gone too far, particularly during the 40-day war.

Iran, he added, could retaliate against nearby US forces or Israel instead of targeting Gulf states.

Al-Manaa said Iran’s conduct reflected a lack of respect for Gulf sovereignty and a disregard for fraternal ties, neighborly relations and shared religious bonds.

Gulf states are peaceful countries that maintain normal relations, trade and neighborly ties with Iran, he said.

Tehran had treated that position with disdain, he added, making it necessary for Gulf states to raise their level of readiness and prepare to confront and respond to further attacks.

Fragile truce, vague memorandum

Political analyst Khaled al-Habbas said the renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran, and the failure of the ceasefire to hold, showed that the memorandum of understanding reached in mid-June was broad and highly ambiguous.

He said the uncertainty was most evident in provisions dealing with the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions on Tehran and its frozen assets.

Al-Habbas said other factors were also driving the crisis.

These included “the deep hostility and mistrust between the two sides, the aggressive nature of the Iranian regime and the sharp divisions between hardline leaders within the Revolutionary Guards and other officials who support negotiations with the United States.”

Doubts over Iran’s commitment to a deal

“The continuation of Iranian aggression against some Gulf states, alongside attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, indicates that the Iranian side is not serious about reaching a final agreement,” al-Habbas said.

He said the negotiations also faced major obstacles, while the ceasefire remained fragile.

Tension and instability would therefore continue to define the regional landscape for now, he added.

Al-Habbas did not rule out further exchanges of military action in the region, although he said both sides appeared keen to avoid a return to full-scale war.

“The danger remains, however, and all possibilities are still open. This is why Gulf states are following these developments with concern,” he said.

He praised Gulf states for successfully confronting Iranian attacks while continuing to support diplomatic efforts to prevent a return to war and the risks it would pose to the region.

Al-Habbas called for greater regional and international diplomatic pressure on Iran to isolate it politically and expose what he described as its aggression.

He said Iran should be held responsible for the damage caused by “this blatant aggression,” while Gulf states retained the right to defend themselves at a time and place of their choosing.