Gulf, European Talks Underscore Strategic Partnership

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf meets with European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simonnet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf meets with European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simonnet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Gulf, European Talks Underscore Strategic Partnership

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf meets with European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simonnet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf meets with European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simonnet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf held talks on Monday with European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simonnet.

Meeting in Riyadh, they discussed relations between the GCC and EU and ways to strengthen cooperation to achieve common interests.

They also tackled the latest regional and international developments.

They stressed the importance of developing relations and the partnership between the Gulf and EU on the strategic and political levels to serve common interests.

Also on Monday, Hajraf met with Dutch Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Janet Alberda for talks on issues of joint interest in the regional and international arenas.

They discussed Gulf-Dutch relations and cooperation.

Hajraf also met with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Pakeer Amza for talks on several issues of interest.

They covered cooperation between Gulf countries and Sri Lanka in various fields and reviewed the latest regional and international developments.

Hajraf underlined the importance of strengthening relations between the two parties.



Yemen Receive Saudi Oil Derivatives Grant to Operate Power Plants

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has provided similar grants of oil derivatives in 2018, 2021, and 2022 and continues its support through the current 2026 grant. (SPA)
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has provided similar grants of oil derivatives in 2018, 2021, and 2022 and continues its support through the current 2026 grant. (SPA)
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Yemen Receive Saudi Oil Derivatives Grant to Operate Power Plants

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has provided similar grants of oil derivatives in 2018, 2021, and 2022 and continues its support through the current 2026 grant. (SPA)
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has provided similar grants of oil derivatives in 2018, 2021, and 2022 and continues its support through the current 2026 grant. (SPA)

The Yemeni governorates of Aden, Al-Mahrah, Shabwah, Abyan, Lahij, Hadhramaut, and Socotra have received a Saudi grant of oil derivatives to operate electricity generation power plants, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The grant supplies fuel to more than 70 power plants across the governorates. It will help in improving the efficiency of government institutions and stimulating the local economy.

By boosting the reliability of electricity supply, the initiative plays a vital role in improving daily living conditions and supporting commercial activity.

The allocation was provided based on needs assessments submitted by the power plants. To ensure that the fuel reaches the final beneficiaries, a committee comprising several Yemeni entities has been formed to supervise and monitor the distribution process.

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has provided similar grants of oil derivatives in 2018, 2021, and 2022 and continues its support through the current 2026 grant.

Since its establishment in 2018, SDRPY has implemented development projects and initiatives across eight key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transport, agriculture and fisheries, government capacity building, and development programs.


Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Supporting the Mission of the Board of Peace in Gaza

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairing the Cabinet session held in Riyadh - SPA
Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairing the Cabinet session held in Riyadh - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Supporting the Mission of the Board of Peace in Gaza

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairing the Cabinet session held in Riyadh - SPA
Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairing the Cabinet session held in Riyadh - SPA

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held in Riyadh on Tuesday.

At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the message he received from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which addressed relations between the two brotherly countries.

The Cabinet reviewed current regional and international developments, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the mission of the Board of Peace in Gaza as a transitional authority to end the conflict, facilitate reconstruction, and pave the way for security and stability for the countries and peoples of the region, SPA reported.

In a statement to the SPA following the session, Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Cabinet commended the participation of the Kingdom’s delegation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, highlighting the progress made in achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The Cabinet also welcomed the Kingdom’s hosting of the WEF Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting, scheduled for April 22–23, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting global economic stability and strengthening communication between developed and developing economies to address shared global challenges.

The Cabinet expressed appreciation for the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the third edition of the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, praising the resulting agreements aimed at empowering the workforce, utilizing artificial intelligence, and building sustainable ecosystems. Furthermore, the Cabinet commended the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for launching its 2026 plan, which comprises 422 humanitarian projects globally, reflecting the Kingdom’s steadfast approach to providing aid and assistance to those in need.

The Cabinet reviewed several reports on completed and ongoing projects and programs within the comprehensive development process. It praised the rapid progress of the Housing Program, which successfully raised the citizen homeownership rate to 66.2% by the end of 2025, with the number of beneficiaries exceeding one million.

The Cabinet also emphasized that more than 700 international companies have chosen Saudi Arabia as their regional headquarters, reflecting the Kingdom’s achievements in infrastructure and its attractive business environment.

The Cabinet deemed the opening of the new expansion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the inauguration of Al-Jouf International Airport as two important pillars for expanding air connectivity, improving the passenger experience, and keeping pace with economic and developmental progress in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi FM: Relations with UAE Important for Regional Stability

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Poland's Foreign Affairs Minister (not in picture) give a joint press conference after their meeting at the Foreign Office in Warsaw, January 26, 2026. (AFP)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Poland's Foreign Affairs Minister (not in picture) give a joint press conference after their meeting at the Foreign Office in Warsaw, January 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Saudi FM: Relations with UAE Important for Regional Stability

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Poland's Foreign Affairs Minister (not in picture) give a joint press conference after their meeting at the Foreign Office in Warsaw, January 26, 2026. (AFP)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Poland's Foreign Affairs Minister (not in picture) give a joint press conference after their meeting at the Foreign Office in Warsaw, January 26, 2026. (AFP)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah underlined on Monday the importance of relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the stability of the region.

Speaking from Warsaw after meeting with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, he acknowledged “differences in visions” between the Kingdom and UAE over Yemen.

“The Kingdom is keen on establishing strong and positive relations with the UAE given its stature as an important partner in the Gulf Cooperation Council,” he went on to say.

“On Yemen, there are differences in visions. The UAE has now decided to leave Yemen and I think if that indeed is the case and the UAE has completely left the issue of Yemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will take responsibility,” he added.

“I think that will be the building block for making sure that the relationship with the UAE continues strong and continues to serve the interests not just of both countries but the region,” stressed Prince Faisal.