UAE, Russia Ink Several MoUs, Agreements during Putin Visit 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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UAE, Russia Ink Several MoUs, Agreements during Putin Visit 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo during the official welcome ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The United Arab Emirates and Russia have signed agreements and MoUs on investment and the environment to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said that it has agreed to sell a stake in the Ghasha gas project to Lukoil, and also signed a strategic framework agreement with Gazprom Neft on upstream, downstream and technology cooperation.

The agreements were signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the UAE.

The Russian and UAE energy ministries also signed an MoU that envisages creating a working group on energy that will develop concrete proposals for joint energy projects.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that promising areas for cooperation between Russia and the UAE include LNG and nuclear and electric power, according to a ministry statement.

More so, the sovereign funds of Russia and the UAE are expected to sign 10 investment deals worth over 1.3 billion US dollars.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said Tuesday that the deals with its UAE counterpart, Mubadala Investment Company, will cover areas such as high technology, healthcare, oil and gas, logistics, industrial production, and artificial intelligence.

During Putin's visit, the two sovereign funds will also organize a meeting of business leaders from the two countries on expanding cooperation and implementing joint projects and prepare an exhibition on investment cooperation, the RDIF said in a statement.

During six years of successful cooperation between the two sides, investments worth more than 2 billion dollars have been made and approved for more than 45 projects, it added.

Russia and the UAE are successfully developing partnerships in trade, energy, industry, tourism, and even in specialized fields such as training astronauts, the statement quoted RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev as saying.

Hazza Al Mansouri became the first UAE astronaut to take part in a mission at the International Space Station (ISS) from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3.



Saudi Crown Prince, France’s Macron Discuss Need to Restore Free Navigation in Hormuz

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, France’s Macron Discuss Need to Restore Free Navigation in Hormuz

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Riyadh in December 2024. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron on the talks to end the war on Iran. 

In a post on the X platform, Macron said they tackled the situation in the Middle East. He renewed his support for the ceasefire, “which should be respected in full and be expanded to include Lebanon without delay.” 

“We also discussed the need to restore free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” Macron added. 

“With the negotiations kicking off in Islamabad, we agreed to remain in close contact to help in de-escalation and freedom of navigation and to reach an agreement that ensures permanent peace and security in the region,” stressed Macron. 

Macron also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, urging ″respect for the ceasefire and its application to Lebanon.” 

The French leader did not mention the negotiations in Pakistan, but said he and Erdogan ″underlined the need for a robust and lasting diplomatic solution.” 

Macron has been speaking regularly with other world leaders about the war and helping lead efforts for a mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting calms.  

He has been particularly active in pushing for peace in Lebanon, a former French protectorate with close ties to France. 

Macron said on Saturday that he had spoken with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, and had highlighted ‌to ‌him the ‌importance ⁠of de-escalating the current ⁠situation through the ceasefire talks in Pakistan. 

"I stressed the need for ⁠Iran to restore ‌freedom ‌of navigation and ‌security in the ‌Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible, to which ‌France stands ready to contribute. ⁠I ⁠insisted on the importance of fully respecting the ceasefire, including in Lebanon," he said in a post on X. 


Pakistani Military Force Arrives in Saudi Arabia Under Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
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Pakistani Military Force Arrives in Saudi Arabia Under Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)
The force aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday the arrival of a military force from Pakistan at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector, acting in accordance with the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed between the two countries.

The force, which includes fighter and support aircraft from the Pakistani Air Force, aims to strengthen joint military coordination and elevate operational readiness between the Saudi and Pakistani militaries to further support regional and international security and stability.

Riyadh ‌and Islamabad signed a mutual defense pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat ⁠any aggression against ⁠either country as an attack on both. 


Saudi Foreign Minister, Belgian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
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Saudi Foreign Minister, Belgian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Maxime Prévost, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency said on Friday.

During the call, they discussed recent regional developments and the efforts being made to address them.