Saudi Culture Minister to Head Board of Directors of Commission to Develop Taif

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. (SPA)
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Saudi Culture Minister to Head Board of Directors of Commission to Develop Taif

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. (SPA)

A Royal Order was issued to establish the board of directors of the new commission to develop Saudi Arabia's Taif province.

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan will head the board, which will include Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud, Princess Haifa bint Muhammad bin Saud bin Khalid, Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al-Sultan, Abdulaziz bin Ismail Trabzoni, Dr. Khaled Omar Azzam, and a representative from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

The commission will work on coordinating efforts of concerned sectors in developing Taif. It will draft policies, plans, visions and studies, promote investment, develop various sectors and improve the quality of life, taking advantage of the massive tourism, natural, heritage and cultural potential in the province.

Taif is seen as the eastern gate to the Makkah region. It is a meeting point of several regions in the Kingdom, boasting several historic and heritage landmarks dating back centuries.

Last week, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a royal order to establish the Taif commission after reviewing proposals submitted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs.



UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
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UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bolstering "brotherly" ties with Syria during the first official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.

The two ministers also discussed the overall developments in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8.

The UAE's foreign minister reiterated the country's support for Syria's independence and sovereignty, WAM added.

Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of intelligence Anas Khattab and the UAE's minister of state for defense affairs, Mohammed Fadel al-Mazrouei, also attended the meeting.

The UAE is part of Shibani's second foreign tour, which earlier took him to Qatar and will also include a visit to Jordan. He said the visits aim to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships", according to his account on X.

Shibani made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia last week, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.