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Saudi Arabia Offers $30 Million Grant to Support Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund

The Saudi and Afghan flags. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi and Afghan flags. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Offers $30 Million Grant to Support Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund

The Saudi and Afghan flags. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi and Afghan flags. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has announced a $30 million grant to support the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF), which operates under the umbrella of the Islamic Development Fund (IsDB), in coordination with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Saudi Press Agency reported Thursday.

The grant comes in continuation of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, and its effective and leading role in offering all types of assistance to friendly countries through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), it said.

The assistance aims to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Afghan people and limiting the risks of deteriorating the critical humanitarian conditions and possible economic collapse in Afghanistan, which might affect regional and international peace and stability, SPA said.

The signing ceremony of the grant agreement was attended by Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, IsDB Chairman Dr. Mohammad Al-Jasser, SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to OIC Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Suhaibani, OIC Special Envoy for Afghanistan Tariq Ali Al-Bakheet, and head of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund Muhammad Al-Saati.

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Gulf

GCC Reaffirms Support for Efforts to Achieve Security and Stability in Yemen

Jassem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Dr. Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s Foreign Minister. (GCC)
Jassem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Dr. Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s Foreign Minister. (GCC)
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GCC Reaffirms Support for Efforts to Achieve Security and Stability in Yemen

Jassem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Dr. Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s Foreign Minister. (GCC)
Jassem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Dr. Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s Foreign Minister. (GCC)

The Gulf Cooperation Council on Monday reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and backed efforts to promote peace and prosperity.

The GCC statement came during a phone call between Secretary-General Jassem Albudaiwi and Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba. The two officials discussed the latest developments in Yemen amid the country’s current circumstances and rapidly unfolding events in the region.

Albudaiwi reiterated that Yemen’s security and stability are of fundamental importance to the security and stability of GCC states and the wider region. He said the council would continue to stand with Yemen and its people and support all efforts to promote security, stability, peace, dignified living and prosperity.

Gulf

Trump Administration Backs Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself against Houthis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
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Trump Administration Backs Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself against Houthis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding a plane en route to Iceland at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on October 5, 2026. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed on Monday that Washington understands the steps taken by the Saudi-led Arab coalition against the terrorist Houthi militia in Yemen.

The Trump administration is determined to meet its bilateral security commitments with the Kingdom in confronting threats from the Iran-backed group.

“The United States has a defense and security agreement with Saudi Arabia and we intend to live by it. I won’t discuss details further than that,” Rubio told a press conference before departing on a European trip that includes Iceland, Greece and Portugal.

“As far as our view of it, well, I think it’s – the Saudis and Yemeni forces clearly are not in favor of the Houthis controlling that territory close to the – to the [Bab al-Mandeb] strait there,” he added.

“It is territory that was gained as a result of a Houthi offensive, and this is the counter to it. We expected that would happen and that’s what’s happening,” he remarked.

“So obviously the Saudis have come under Houthi attack and see the threat that that poses, and they have a right to defend themselves. And obviously the Yemeni forces are going to try to retake territory that they were ousted from,” Rubio added.

Gulf

Under Royal Directives, Saudi Arabia to Regularize Residency Status of Yemeni Nationals

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
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Under Royal Directives, Saudi Arabia to Regularize Residency Status of Yemeni Nationals

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)
The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status. (Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen)

Under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in response to a request submitted by Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that the status of all Yemeni nationals residing irregularly in the Kingdom will be officially regularized.

The ministry is carrying out the initiative with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and Saudi Data and AI Authority, as part of the Kingdom's continued fraternal and humanitarian support for the Yemeni people.

The Ministry of Interior said that holding a valid Yemeni passport is an essential prerequisite for regularizing legal status.

The start date and applicable regulations will be announced through the official accounts of the General Directorate of Passports and other relevant authorities.