Yemen, UAE Coordinate to Deter Houthi Attacks against Economic Facilities

The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi (Wam)
The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi (Wam)
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Yemen, UAE Coordinate to Deter Houthi Attacks against Economic Facilities

The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi (Wam)
The UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi (Wam)

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed with the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi, coordinating efforts to deter Houthi terrorist attacks on oil export ports and economic facilities, according to Yemeni sources.

Saba news agency stated that Alimi and the accompanying delegation discussed recent developments in the Yemeni situation with the President and prospects of advancing ties.

Saba reported that the meeting touched on discussions about Yemeni developments and bilateral relations, including presidential and governmental reforms, and coordinated measures to deter the terrorist Houthi attacks on national economic facilities.

Alimi congratulated Sheikh Mohammed, the Emirati government, and the people on the 51st UAE National day, expressing his appreciation for UAE's support to Yemen and the legitimate leadership.

The Yemeni leader arrived in Abu Dhabi from the Jordanian capital, Amman. Alimi is leading the Council's movements in the region to support economic and political reforms and confront Houthi escalation.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Finance Minister Salem Saleh bin Brik met in Riyadh with US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking and Ambassador Stephen Fagin. They discussed recent economic developments and regional and international efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.

Yemeni sources stated that the meeting addressed Houthi attacks on oil facilities in Hadramout and Shabwa and their impact on the overall humanitarian, living, economic, and public aspects.

The meeting also addressed the government procedures and options to deal with these repeated attacks and measures taken regarding the port of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Houthi militia.

According to the Saba agency, the Yemeni Minister discussed his country's needs and technical and material support to build state institutions and infrastructure destroyed by the Houthi war.

Bin Brik reviewed state and government efforts to carry out the necessary economic and financial reforms during the last period and their positive impact on supporting and stabilizing the national economy.

They also addressed the required measures to develop oil and non-oil resources, control expenditures, and enhance transparency and accountability.

The Minister touched on the government's financial priorities and efforts to confront the challenges, given the adverse effects of the Houthi military escalation on the humanitarian and economic aspects.

Bin Brik reaffirmed the importance of the comprehensive economic, financial, and monetary reform program signed by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and the Yemeni government under Saudi sponsorship.

The $1 billion program aims to establish the foundations of economic, financial, and monetary stability in Yemen, strengthen its public finances and external position, rebuild its institutions and enhance its governance and transparency.

Yemeni media reported that the US envoy reaffirmed his country's support to Yemen, aiming to alleviate human and living suffering, improve the economy, and support international efforts to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace.



Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
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Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).

Information provided by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior helped Lebanese authorities foil an attempt to smuggle nearly 3.9 million amphetamine pills, the ministry said on Friday.

The seizure was made following intelligence shared by the Saudi ministry’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control as part of efforts to monitor criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, the ministry's security spokesperson Brigadier General Talal bin Shalhoub said in a statement.

Bin Shalhoub said cooperation between Saudi and Lebanese authorities in tracking and intercepting narcotics reflected the level of security coordination between the two countries in combating cross-border criminal networks.

Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue drug-trafficking activities that threaten the kingdom’s security and youth, disrupt smuggling operations and arrest those involved, he added.


Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
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Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 

The United Nations has selected Riyadh as the headquarters of the first cybersecurity-focused office of its training and research arm, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The move reflects Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the sector and the success of its cybersecurity model at the national, regional and international levels.

The office will spearhead initiatives and projects focused on capacity building, policy development, and joint research and development programs, helping to strengthen the skills of a broad range of beneficiaries and specialists while advancing cybersecurity globally.

Its objectives align with the Global Initiative for Building Cyber Capacities, launched by Saudi Arabia in partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, particularly through research and development programs, training courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the capabilities of policymakers, law enforcement officials, diplomats and cybersecurity professionals worldwide.

Musaed Al Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Chairman of the NCA Board of Directors, praised the support the sector receives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

He said the selection reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to promoting international cooperation and joint action in cybersecurity.

Al Aiban added that the decision underscores Saudi Arabia’s leading position in the strategic sector and the achievements of its cybersecurity model since the establishment of the NCA as the country’s competent authority and national reference body for cybersecurity. He also highlighted the creation of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as the authority’s strategic and technical partner in developing the sector.

Saudi Arabia has established a strong track record in supporting strategic cybersecurity initiatives, further cementing its standing as a preferred destination for international organizations and institutions, Al Aiban underlined. He added that the Kingdom has long championed international initiatives aimed at enhancing the stability of cyberspace, contributing to societal prosperity, economic growth and human well-being worldwide.

For his part, Majed Al Mazyed, Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, said the UN’s decision further reflects Saudi Arabia’s internationally recognized leadership in cybersecurity, as evidenced by a range of global benchmarks.

He noted that Saudi Arabia retained its position as the world’s top-ranked country in cybersecurity for a second consecutive year in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025. He also pointed to the Kingdom’s designation by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for information and communication technologies, as a “Role Model” in the highest tier of the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024.

Michelle McDonough, Executive Director of UNITAR, said the launch of the institute’s first cybersecurity office and the choice of Riyadh as its headquarters underscore Saudi Arabia’s leadership and its pivotal role in advancing international cybersecurity efforts.

She added that the office will work with partners to address cybersecurity capacity gaps globally and help transform shared risks into shared resilience by connecting institutions and organizations across regions.

Saudi Arabia already hosts several regional and international cybersecurity bodies, including the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation, and the Cyber Economics Center, established through a partnership between the foundation and the World Economic Forum.

 

 

 

 

 


UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates categorically denied on Friday media reports alleging the transfer of funds from the UAE to Iran, including allegations concerning USD 3 billion.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that these allegations are “entirely false and unfounded”, stressing that “no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE.”

The Ministry called on media outlets “to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources, and refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information and unfounded allegations,” reported the UAE's state news agency WAM.