GCC Praises Saudi Arabia's Efforts in Yemen

 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded in 1981. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded in 1981. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters
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GCC Praises Saudi Arabia's Efforts in Yemen

 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded in 1981. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded in 1981. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Naif Al Hajraf has praised the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Yemen which resulted in accelerating and activating the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement.

Hajraf also confirmed GCC’s keenness to restore security and stability in Yemen and its return as an active member in the Gulf and Arab arenas.

He affirmed the Council’s support for the United Nations efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the GCC initiative and its mechanisms, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue and the Security Council Resolution No. 2216.

In a phone call with Yemeni Premier Maeen Abdulmalik, Hajraf hailed the Saudi efforts aimed at implementing the Riyadh Agreement and expressed his wishes to cope with current difficulties to alleviate Yemenis' suffering and help them reach the stability they pursue.

Yemen's PM said everyone is determined to apply the recently reached mechanism, to accelerate the Riyadh Agreement implementation, that has already started with his mandate and the appointment of Aden governor and the police director in preparation for the next steps.

He further lauded the great efforts and unlimited support provided by Saudi Arabia in Yemen's decisively existential battle to maintain its Arab identity and abort the Iranian project assumed by the Houthi group.



Syrian President Begins Gulf Tour Following Easing of International Sanctions

A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
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Syrian President Begins Gulf Tour Following Easing of International Sanctions

A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has begun a tour of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, marking his second visit to the region and his first since most international sanctions on Syria were lifted.

The trip, which began in the United Arab Emirates, underscores Damascus’s push to reintegrate economically and diplomatically into the Arab world after more than a decade of isolation.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the tour aims to bolster economic cooperation and attract Gulf investments to support Syria’s national reconstruction and development plans.

Al-Sharaa arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where he was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders held official talks focusing on post-war recovery, economic partnership, and infrastructure development.

Speaking during the meeting, al-Sharaa said Syria has “turned the page on war and division” and is now focused on building “strategic partnerships” with its Gulf neighbors. He praised the UAE’s role in supporting regional stability and expressed interest in learning from the Emirati model in sustainable development, digital transformation, and clean energy.

For his part, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s full support for Syria’s efforts to restore stability and rebuild its war-torn economy. He stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, especially in key sectors such as infrastructure, investment, and technology.