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Gulf

Largest Yemeni Consultations Since Coup Kick Off in Riyadh

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
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Largest Yemeni Consultations Since Coup Kick Off in Riyadh

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)

The intra-Yemeni consultations kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The consultations, the largest since the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in 2014, are being sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). They are bringing together Yemenis from across the country to discuss peace and are set to conclude on April 7.

Present at the opening were GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg, United States envoy Tim Lenderking and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Ibrahim Taha.

The Houthis have not attended the talks in spite being invited. Al-Hajraf renewed his invitation on Tuesday.

Addressing the gatherers, Al-Hajraf said the Riyadh Agreement represents a roadmap for Yemen. "The peaceful solution is the only way to resolve the crisis," he added.

The consultations are a platform to "diagnose the situation in the country so that it can move from war to peace," he went on to say.

"The Yemeni solution lies in Yemeni hands," he stressed.

"The success of the consultations is not a choice, but a reality that must materialize," urged Al-Hajraf, while thanking the Saudi-led Arab coalition for declaring a ceasefire, which started Wednesday, to ensure the success of the Riyadh talks.

Taha echoed the praise of the coalition, while hailing the efforts of the GCC in ending the crisis.

"We are keen on ending the crisis and the suffering of the people," he declared. "Dialogue is the only option to resolve the crisis."

Grundberg underscored the pressing need to support a comprehensive solution in Yemen.

He noted that Riyadh had led Yemeni dialogues that had led to positive results.

The Yemeni people want fair and lasting peace, he added. They have stressed to the UN their desire to end the war.

Grundberg described the ceasefire as a "step in the right direction."

For his part, Lenderking said the US supports the Yemeni parties in reaching a comprehensive peaceful solution.

The consultations are an international commitment to make the situation more stable, he remarked.

The consultations are set to discuss a number of military, political, humanitarian, relief and social issues. They also aim to open humanitarian corridors.

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Gulf

Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi on Monday at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Albudaiwi presented a comprehensive report to Sheikh Sabah regarding Kuwait’s presidency of the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council, and expressed his appreciation for the generous support and steadfast commitment Kuwait provides to the GCC's journey, SPA reported.

He underscored that such support serves as a powerful catalyst for continued efforts toward achieving greater integration and cooperation, ultimately fostering prosperity and well-being for the GCC member states and their peoples.

Gulf

Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
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Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inaugurated a central nursery and wild seed research and production station in Al-Jouf, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The project aims to boost vegetation cover and sustainability within the reserve. Spanning 1,600 hectares, the project includes advanced botanical facilities, including parent seed fields, seed storage, nurseries, and a wild plant garden, to support local seed and seedling production.

The parent seed fields consist of 14 areas with over 400,000 trees and shrubs from more than 30 local species.

The central nursery covers 60,000 square meters and contains 30 greenhouses, with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million seedlings across 15 plant species. The project boasts a botanical garden spanning 12,000 square meters, featuring over 280 species of trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses.

The central nursery and seed station have contributed to planting over four million seedlings and dispersing more than 8,000 kilograms of seeds across 10 locations within the reserve, resulting in five million wild plants. This reflects the reserve’s commitment to restoring ecosystems and expanding vegetation cover.

Gulf

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
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Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA

The 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee kicked off Sunday in Riyadh, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and bringing together representatives from government entities of both countries to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation and developing strategic partnerships across various economic and development sectors.

The committee session was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Samir Abdelhafidh, attended by official delegations and government sector representatives from both countries, SPA reported.

In his opening remarks, Alkhorayef emphasized the strength of Saudi-Tunisian relations and the brotherly and economic ties between the two countries, which span more than 70 years. He noted that these ties are reflected today in shared visions and ambitious work programs that align with the aspirations of both countries’ leaderships and peoples, as well as their mutual interests.

He pointed out that the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee, launched in 1998, represents an institutional framework aimed at translating cooperation into executable programs and initiatives. He expressed his hope that this session would serve as a new starting point for joint strategic projects and more impactful agreements that contribute to the economic development of both countries.

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors. The minister called on companies in both countries to build practical partnerships in promising industries and value chains. He also highlighted the outcomes of the third meeting, held in Tunisia in July 2025, namely the agreements on mutual recognition of product conformity certificates, which positively contributed to a 38% growth in trade exchange through September 2025 compared with the same period last year.

The committee’s current session focused on boosting cooperation mechanisms, discussing investment opportunities, and exchanging expertise in key sectors, including industry, mining, tourism, transport and logistics, and the judiciary and justice sectors. These efforts aim to enhance trade efficiency, support the access of Saudi products to international markets, and strengthen economic and investment cooperation.