Al-Alimi Heads to Doha to Garner Political, Economic Support

The head of Yemen's new presidential council Rashad al-Alimi attends a session of the Yemeni parliament in Aden, Yemen April 19, 2022. (Reuters)
The head of Yemen's new presidential council Rashad al-Alimi attends a session of the Yemeni parliament in Aden, Yemen April 19, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
20

Al-Alimi Heads to Doha to Garner Political, Economic Support

The head of Yemen's new presidential council Rashad al-Alimi attends a session of the Yemeni parliament in Aden, Yemen April 19, 2022. (Reuters)
The head of Yemen's new presidential council Rashad al-Alimi attends a session of the Yemeni parliament in Aden, Yemen April 19, 2022. (Reuters)

Head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi is expected to arrive in the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday to hold official talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and senior officials to garner political and economic support for his country.

This is the first visit by a high-ranking Yemeni official in years. Discussions will focus on bilateral relations and garnering support for several major vital projects in Yemen.

Yemeni Ambassador to Doha Rajeh al-Badi told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Alimi's visit is part of his regional tour that has so far taken him to Kuwait, Bahrain and Egypt.

The tour is aimed at gathering regional support for the new presidential council and bolstering relations.

Badi noted that Qatar and Yemen enjoy historic relation in all fields and the Gulf country is home to a large Yemeni expatriate community.

Moreover, the visit demonstrates that the world stands by the legitimate authority in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi coup.

"We are keen on clarifying our position to our brothers in Gulf Cooperation Council and the world," he stressed.

"We extend our hands to peace and reject wars and their disastrous consequences," declared the envoy. "As you know, however, the Houthis do not listen to the voice of reason."

"Everyone is looking forward to this visit and its results that will boost our ties with the Gulf," he remarked.



Trump Heads on ‘Historic’ Gulf Tour

Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
TT
20

Trump Heads on ‘Historic’ Gulf Tour

Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday left for Saudi Arabia on what he called a "historic" tour of the Middle East that will mix urgent diplomacy on Gaza and Iran with huge business deals.

Air Force One took off on a journey that starts in Saudi Arabia and includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- and possibly talks in Türkiye on the Ukraine war.

Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza will hang heavy over the first major tour of Trump's second term -- but in one sign of progress, US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was handed over to the Red Cross just as the president boarded his plane.

"It's big news," Trump said at the White House shortly before departing. "He's coming home to his parents, which is really great news. They thought he was dead."

Trump has in recent weeks seemed to cool on his efforts to end the Gaza war -- despite boasting before taking office that he would be able to bring the conflict to a swift end.

Trump said there were "very good things happening" on talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- though he added that Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon."

The US president said that he hoped for more developments on Gaza during his trip to the Gulf, noting that his tour involved "three primary countries" in the region.

Riyadh will host on Wednesday a Gulf-American summit as Trump visits the region.

The summit will bring together the US president with his counterparts from the Arab Gulf.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent on Sunday invitations to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to attend the summit.