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.



Fallen Debris in Dubai after Drone Interception

Workers inspect the damage at the Address Creek Harbour hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Workers inspect the damage at the Address Creek Harbour hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
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Fallen Debris in Dubai after Drone Interception

Workers inspect the damage at the Address Creek Harbour hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Workers inspect the damage at the Address Creek Harbour hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Dubai reported an attempted drone attack and fallen debris in two locations on Thursday.

The Dubai government's media office reported "a minor incident caused by debris from a successful interception that fell onto the facade of a building on Sheikh Zayed Road.”

Earlier, the media office reported "a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area.”

Both incidents caused no casualties, it said in the statements on X.


Kuwait Reports Material Damage after Drone Attack on Airport

A man fishes in the Gulf waters off Kuwait City on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A man fishes in the Gulf waters off Kuwait City on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Kuwait Reports Material Damage after Drone Attack on Airport

A man fishes in the Gulf waters off Kuwait City on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A man fishes in the Gulf waters off Kuwait City on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Drone strikes caused damage at Kuwait's international airport, authorities said Thursday, after the facility came under fire again during Iran's attacks against the Gulf.

"The civil aviation announces that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones, resulting only in material damage," authorities said in a statement, adding that there were no casualties.

Also Thursday, Kuwait's electricity ministry said that six power transmission lines ⁠went out of service ⁠after debris from ⁠intercepted drones fell on them.

The ministry added that the electricity and ⁠water situation is ⁠under control.


Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones Headed to Shaybah Oil Field

Saudi Ministry of Defense logo
Saudi Ministry of Defense logo
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Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones Headed to Shaybah Oil Field

Saudi Ministry of Defense logo
Saudi Ministry of Defense logo

Saudi Arabia intercepted drones headed towards the Shaybah oil field on Thursday, marking ⁠the third such incident reported on the same day.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Maliki also stated Wednesday that a hostile drone was shot down while attempting to approach the Diplomatic Quarter.

Al-Maliki further stated that drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region.