Messi Announced as Saudi Tourism Ambassador

Messi is welcomed in Saudi Arabia. (Minister of Tourism via Twitter)
Messi is welcomed in Saudi Arabia. (Minister of Tourism via Twitter)
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Messi Announced as Saudi Tourism Ambassador

Messi is welcomed in Saudi Arabia. (Minister of Tourism via Twitter)
Messi is welcomed in Saudi Arabia. (Minister of Tourism via Twitter)

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb announced on Monday Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi as the Kingdom's tourism ambassador.

In a tweet, he welcomed Messi and his friends to Saudi Arabia where he will spend a "unique vacation to discover the treasures of the Red Sea and Jeddah Season and its rich history."

Messi, who also plays for France's Paris St. Germain, had arrived in Jeddah where he was accorded a warm welcome by authorities and avid fans.

He was accompanied by his colleague in the Argentine national team and PSG midfielder Leonardo Paredes and other friends.

Soon after, Messi posted a photo on instagram, with a caption saying he was enjoying the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.



UAE President Tells Rubio Rejects Displacement of Palestinians

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
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UAE President Tells Rubio Rejects Displacement of Palestinians

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)

United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that Abu Dhabi rejected any displacement of Palestinians, official media said.

Sheikh Mohammed "affirmed the UAE's firm position rejecting any attempts aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land", the Gulf state's WAM news agency said following a US proposal to take over the war-battered Gaza Strip and move its inhabitants.

It added that the president "stressed the need for the reconstruction of Gaza to be linked to a path leading to comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution".

The Abu Dhabi meeting covered a range of regional and international issues of shared concern, with a focus on developments in the Middle East and the Palestinian Territory and ongoing efforts to address the crisis in Gaza, as well as its implications for regional peace, stability, and security.

Sheikh Mohamed and Rubio also discussed cooperation between their countries, as well as ways to further deepen ties across various fields in pursuit of their joint interests.