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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

Saudi FM Receives French President's Adviser, Holds Phone Call with Portuguese Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi FM Receives French President's Adviser, Holds Phone Call with Portuguese Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received Dora Cattuti, the Adviser to the French President for the Middle East and North Africa, in Riyadh on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two officials reviewed bilateral relations between their countries, regional developments, and issues of mutual interest.

The Saudi FM also held a phone call with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel.

During the call, Prince Faisal congratulated Rangel on Portugal's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.

He expressed his aspiration to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the two countries in a manner that contributes to regional and international security and stability.

The two ministers also discussed regional developments and issues of mutual interest.

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Unable to Attend G7 Summit Due to Prior Commitments

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Unable to Attend G7 Summit Due to Prior Commitments

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sent a message on Thursday to France’s President Emmanuel Macron apologizing for his inability to attend the Group of Seven summit gathering citing prior commitments.

In his letter, the Crown Prince thanked Macron for the invitation to participate in the June 15–17 G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva.

Prince Mohammed said he would be unable to attend because of prior commitments, reaffirming the strength of bilateral strategic relations between the two countries and extending his best wishes for a successful summit.

Gulf

Lebanon’s Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Decision on Exports Came after Beirut Met Standards

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Nov. 3, 2025 (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Nov. 3, 2025 (SPA)
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Lebanon’s Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Decision on Exports Came after Beirut Met Standards

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Nov. 3, 2025 (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Nov. 3, 2025 (SPA)

Lebanon’s ambassador to Riyadh said Saudi Arabia’s decision to resume imports from Lebanon came after Beirut met the required standards to ensure the goods posed no risk.

The diplomat said the fight against drugs had involved intensive work and high-level security and political coordination between the two countries.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday ordered the resumption of Lebanese exports to the Kingdom at the request of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The move followed what were described as positive steps by Lebanon’s government to rebuild state institutions, work by specialist teams over the past year, Beirut’s cooperation and the required pledges it had made.

In a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday, Ambassador Ali Karanouh welcomed the Crown Prince’s decision, saying it reflected “the depth of the brotherly and historic relations between the two countries, and the Saudi leadership’s keenness to support Lebanon, its institutions, economy, and people, especially in these difficult circumstances.”

‘A lifeline’

Karanouh said Lebanon was going through a period in which it needed “a lifeline,” adding that the step “is not surprising from Saudi Arabia, which has always stood by Lebanon.”

He cited Riyadh’s role in the Taif Agreement that ended Lebanon’s civil war, as well as its support during reconstruction and recovery.

The ambassador said Lebanese people were grateful for the decision, which he said would benefit agriculture, industry, trade, and services, and help Lebanon regain access to one of the most important Arab and Gulf markets at a time when it badly needs support.

He said the decision was the result of efforts that began with Aoun’s election and the formation of Salam’s government.

 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Makkah on March 30, 2025. SPA

Intensive security coordination on drugs

Karanouh said the new Lebanese government “showed from the first day its determination to return Lebanon to its natural place among its Arab brothers, after a period of distance caused by political choices that were not in its interest.”

He said the government had repaired relations with Arab states, especially Gulf countries, on the basis that Lebanon is an integral part of its Arab surroundings.

He said Beirut was determined from the start not to allow Lebanon to be used as a platform to harm Arab countries. The anti-drug file, he added, had seen intensive work and security and political coordination at the highest levels between Lebanese and Saudi authorities.

Karanouh said Saudi authorities had appreciated Lebanon’s efforts, including tighter controls at border crossings, airports and ports.

Those efforts, he said, continued for about 18 months and helped restore confidence in Lebanon and its institutions, turning the page on a period that had damaged the country’s reputation and foreign relations.

Lebanon, he said, was now on the right path.

Karanouh said the decision to resume Lebanese exports to Saudi Arabia was a major step that would benefit Lebanon’s economy and economic cooperation between the two countries. He said it came after Lebanon met the required standards, ensuring Lebanese exports posed no danger to brotherly countries.

The ambassador said Lebanese exporters were ready to enter the Saudi market and that the remaining technical and procedural issues were minor and could be resolved easily.

He said the Saudi decision would push bilateral ties into a broader phase, whether through the signing and activation of partnership agreements or through the Saudi-Lebanese Business Council, whose formation was completed months ago.

He expressed hope that the move would be followed by the return of Saudi flights and Saudi tourism to Lebanon when conditions allow.

Broad welcome in Lebanon

The Crown Prince’s decision was widely welcomed across Lebanon, nearly five years after Saudi Arabia halted all Lebanese imports, citing at the time “the importance of taking all necessary measures to protect the security of the Kingdom and its people.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan conveyed the Crown Prince’s directive in a phone call with Salam on Wednesday. He affirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty over all its territory and the well-being of its people, as well as Riyadh’s confidence that Lebanon would take all necessary measures to ensure it is not used as a platform to harm its brothers.

Aoun expressed deep gratitude to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying the decision was “a sincere expression of the depth of Arab brotherhood that binds the two brotherly countries, and an embodiment of the wise Saudi leadership’s keenness to support Lebanon and its people during the phase of recovery and revival it is undergoing.”

Aoun said: “This kind step will make a tangible contribution to reviving the national economy and supporting broad segments of Lebanese producers and exporters.”

He added that the entire Lebanese people appreciates the decision, and “views it as a gesture that strengthens the path of Lebanese-Saudi relations rooted in the bonds of history and shared destiny.”

Salam said the decision to lift the ban on Lebanese exports reflected the depth of the brotherly and historic ties between the two countries. He said it embodied Saudi confidence in Lebanon and a shared desire to strengthen economic and trade cooperation.

Salam said the move was an important step that would support Lebanon’s economy, open new opportunities for Lebanese producers and exporters, and help promote growth and stability.

He said Lebanon looked forward to continued work and coordination with Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation and partnership in various fields for the benefit and prosperity of both countries.