Saudi Arabia, Qatar Work to Revive Joint Business Council

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
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Saudi Arabia, Qatar Work to Revive Joint Business Council

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon his arrival to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

The private sector in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar is actively working to revive the joint business council, in a step that follows the restoration of the political and economic relations between the two countries that marked Al-Ula GCC Summit earlier this year.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Council of Saudi Chambers has informed the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the regions of the Kingdom to open candidacies for the membership of the Joint Saudi-Qatari Business Council, calling on those wishing to participate to review the special conditions and submit the dedicated forms, along with their resume and other required documents.

On a different note, the Union of Arab Chambers addressed a letter to the Council of Saudi Chambers, announcing the intention of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, to organize a virtual Qatar exhibition early next March.

According to the letter, the exhibition is an opportunity for international companies to participate with their Qatari counterparts through the electronic platform to exchange experiences and form partnerships in various sectors of construction, packaging, electrical appliances, and food.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has recently launched the new system of the Chambers of Commerce, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, to facilitate the start and practice of commercial work, develop the functioning of the chambers through performance indicators and raise their efficiency in accordance with international best practices.

The system also aims to strengthen strategic partnerships that would allow the development of economic activities in all regions, and raise the competitiveness of the business sector.

The ministry noted that the system seeks to unify efforts to serve the private sector by establishing chambers or branches according to administrative regions. It also allows foreign investors to be members of the boards of directors of the chambers.

The new system has given the council several missions, the most important of which is the representation of the chambers of commerce in the various commercial activities at the national and international level.



El-Khereiji Holds Talks with UN Sec-Gen's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict

The two sides discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest - SPA
The two sides discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest - SPA
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El-Khereiji Holds Talks with UN Sec-Gen's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict

The two sides discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest - SPA
The two sides discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest - SPA

Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met with Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Frazier at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest and the efforts underway to address them.


Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with Iranian, Pakistani Counterparts

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with Iranian, Pakistani Counterparts

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate phone talks on Sunday with his counterparts from Iran and Pakistan during which regional developments were the main focus of their discussions.

With his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, the Saudi minister discussed the efforts to preserve regional security and stability.

In a separate call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Prince Faisal discussed developments related to the current crisis and efforts to contain it through dialogue and negotiations, in a bid to ease tensions and preserve regional security and stability.

They also discussed the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.


Saudi Arabia, Seven Nations Condemn Israeli Remarks on Forced Displacement of Palestinians

Israeli settlers move around in their off-road vehicles near to the besieged Palestinian houses in Qusra village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Israeli settlers move around in their off-road vehicles near to the besieged Palestinian houses in Qusra village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Saudi Arabia, Seven Nations Condemn Israeli Remarks on Forced Displacement of Palestinians

Israeli settlers move around in their off-road vehicles near to the besieged Palestinian houses in Qusra village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Israeli settlers move around in their off-road vehicles near to the besieged Palestinian houses in Qusra village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt on Sunday strongly condemned remarks made by Israeli officials regarding plans to force Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, the ministers described the remarks and proposals as “incitement” and said they represented a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and a direct threat to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday outlined a seven-year plan for removing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip through what Ben-Gvir described as "voluntary emigration."

The Saudi and Arab statement rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians, whether within or outside the occupied Palestinian territories, under any pretext or guise and warned against making it official policy.

The ministers said the measures directly challenged international peace efforts, including US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict, which rejects forced displacement, and warned they could undermine regional stability.

The statement stressed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and called for preserving the territorial unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The ministers said the only path to a just and lasting peace was the implementation of a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant international resolutions.

They called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to oppose any attempts to alter the demographic or geographic status of the occupied Palestinian territories and uphold international law. They reaffirmed support for “steadfast” Palestinians remaining on their land and rejected efforts to undermine their rights or erase the Palestinian cause.