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Saudi Arabia Appoints Female Ambassador to Norway

Saudi Ambassador to Norway Amal Yahya al-Moallimi | Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Ambassador to Norway Amal Yahya al-Moallimi | Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Appoints Female Ambassador to Norway

Saudi Ambassador to Norway Amal Yahya al-Moallimi | Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Ambassador to Norway Amal Yahya al-Moallimi | Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has appointed its second female ambassador to represent the Kingdom in Norway.

Amal Yahya al-Moallimi is the second female to represent her country at such a senior diplomatic post.

Moallimi took the oath of office virtually on Tuesday before Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“We have witnessed many developments that affected all aspects of society in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps the most notable positive impact is what has been achieved for women,” Moallimi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

She said that her appointment coincides with women also achieving progress on the economic front.

The rate of women in the Saudi labor market has reached 27%.

This exceeds the goal set by Kingdom Vision 2030, which set the expected rate at 20% in 2020.

“The presence of two female ambassadors from Saudi Arabia at the western level is good, and we aspire to empower more in the future,” Moallimi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Moallimi’s appointment reinforces the presence of women in high-ranking diplomatic positions. Last year, Riyadh appointed Princess Reema Bint Bandar as its ambassador to Washington.

Saudi women have previously represented the Kingdom at international levels in several positions.

Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin was appointed as Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Thoraya Obaid, the first Arab woman to head a UN agency, was appointed head of UNFPA in 2001 with the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the UN.

Moallimi holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Denver in the US.

She got her Bachelor of Arts in English language from Princess Noura Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, in addition to a Fellowship from the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Moallimi is the general manager of international collaboration at Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission (HRC). She previously held the position of assistant secretary-general at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue.

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Gulf

World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The World Defense Show opened in Riyadh on Sunday, bringing together defense and military companies from around the globe to showcase advanced technologies, as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to localize its military industries and strengthen domestic supply chains.

The third edition of the exhibition is being held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and organized by the General Authority for Military Industries from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12.

It features official delegations, government entities, and international firms operating in the defense and security sectors.

The event comes as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a comprehensive national defense industry and localize more than 50 percent of military spending, while boosting operational readiness and strategic autonomy.

Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries and chairman of the exhibition’s supervisory committee, said the show reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to innovation, localization, and the development of an integrated defense ecosystem.

He said the exhibition includes live air and ground demonstrations, static displays, and newly introduced zones designed to enhance cooperation between government bodies and major national and international defense companies.

Andrew Pearcey, chief executive of the World Defense Show, said the event would feature a comprehensive program starting with an official delegations initiative linking senior officials with investors and industry leaders to support international industrial and technological cooperation.

Pearcey said the “Defense Industry Lab” would highlight emerging technologies and applied research, while dedicated zones would focus on naval systems and Saudi supply chains, connecting local manufacturers and small and medium-sized enterprises with global firms.

The program also includes meetings between Saudi government entities and industry representatives to discuss operational requirements and investment opportunities.

He added that the venue includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and large display areas, allowing the exhibition to host integrated air, land, and maritime demonstrations.

Participation in the 2026 edition is expected to exceed previous shows, reflecting growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s defense market.

South Korea’s air force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, will take part in the exhibition for the first time in the Middle East. The South Korean Air Force said it would deploy 9 T-50 fighter jets, including 1 reserve aircraft, 4 C-130 transport planes, and about 120 personnel.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Saturday the Rapid Support Forces’ attack against a humanitarian aid convoy in Sudan’s Kordofan.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom expressed its strong condemnation of the attack against Al-Kuweik Military Hospital, a humanitarian aid convoy affiliated with the World Food Program, and a vehicle transporting displaced civilians.

“These acts are unjustifiable under any circumstances and are flagrant violations of all humanitarian norms and relevant international agreements,” it stressed.

“The Kingdom called on the RSF to immediately cease these violations and to fulfill their moral and humanitarian obligations by ensuring the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023,” it added.

The Kingdom reiterated its firm position in support of Sudan’s unity, security, and stability, the need to preserve its legitimate institutions.

It voiced its rejection of “foreign interference and the continued actions of certain parties in supplying illicit weapons, mercenaries, and foreign fighters, despite their stated support for a political solution,” saying such “conduct is a primary factor in prolonging the conflict and exacerbating the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

A drone attack by the RSF hit a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, a doctors’ group said, a day after a World Food Program aid convoy was targeted.

The attack occurred close to the city of Rahad in North Kordofan province, said the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the country’s ongoing war. The vehicle was transporting displaced people who fled fighting in the Dubeiker area, the group said in a statement. Among the dead children were two infants.

Gulf

OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
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OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat strongly condemned on Saturday the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad.

The secretariat stressed its categorical rejection of terrorism in all its forms, especially those targeting places of worship.

It underlined its firm stance in condemning these criminal acts, which are contrary to human values and religious principles.

The OIC offered its sincere condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and to the families of the victims.

It also reiterated its full solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and boost its security and stability.

At least 30 people killed in a suicide bombing at a Muslim mosque during Friday prayers.