Saudi Arabia Launches First Direct Flight from Dammam to Iraq’s Najaf

The first direct flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Najaf, Iraq (Flynas account on X)
The first direct flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Najaf, Iraq (Flynas account on X)
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Saudi Arabia Launches First Direct Flight from Dammam to Iraq’s Najaf

The first direct flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Najaf, Iraq (Flynas account on X)
The first direct flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Najaf, Iraq (Flynas account on X)

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday the launch of the first direct flights from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (east of the Kingdom) to the city of Najaf in Iraq via national carrier Flynas.

Flynas is the first Saudi airline to connect the two cities, with an average of three weekly flights, according to the company’s account on X.

In April, the Authority announced the start of direct flights to Najaf, as of June, in line with the Kingdom’s strategy for the aviation sector, which aims to reach more than 330 million passengers annually and more than 250 destinations in the world by 2030.

The launching ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Iraq’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Safia Al-Suhail, the Governor of Najaf, Youssef Kannawi, and a number of officials in the governorate.

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, said that he was “optimistic to see Najaf receiving visitors from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” and stressed that it was “a step to break the ice between the two countries.”



President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Arrives in Riyadh

President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council arrives in Riyadh. (SPA)
President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council arrives in Riyadh. (SPA)
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President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Arrives in Riyadh

President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council arrives in Riyadh. (SPA)
President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council arrives in Riyadh. (SPA)

President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his accompanying delegation arrived in Riyadh on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency said.

He was received at King Khalid International Airport by Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz and several other officials.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Chinese President 

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Chinese President 

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Sunday a written message from China’s President Xi Jinping on bilateral relations between their two countries.

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi and Director General of the General Department for Asian Affairs Nasser Al-Ghannoum.


Fifth Session of Political Committee under Saudi-Chinese Joint High-Level Committee Held in Riyadh 

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
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Fifth Session of Political Committee under Saudi-Chinese Joint High-Level Committee Held in Riyadh 

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met in Riyadh on Sunday for talks on the comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries.

They praised the level of relations across all fields, including the economic, trade, investment, and energy sectors.

They underscored that the visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and China, which have witnessed significant development and alignment of vision.

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors.

They stressed their keenness to provide mutual support on matters related to the vital interests of both countries. They underlined their support for measures that achieve security, stability, development, and prosperity in both nations, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the leadership of both countries.

The Saudi side reaffirmed its adherence to the One-China policy, recognizing the Chinese government as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, stressing that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

The Chinese side expressed its support for the development and strengthening of Saudi-Iranian relations and praised the Kingdom’s leadership role and efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability.

It lauded the economic developments taking place in the Kingdom under Saudi Vision 2030. It commended the outcomes of the Arab-China Riyadh Summit for Cooperation and Development hosted by the Kingdom in December 2022.

Saudi officials expressed their support for China hosting the second China-Arab Summit and the second China-GCC Summit in 2026.

Chinese officials also expressed Beijing's readiness to participate in the World Expo 2030 Riyadh.

The two parties exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, expressing their readiness to boost communication and coordination on these matters.

They underscored their support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution, international resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Both sides also signed an agreement on the mutual waiver of visas for holders of diplomatic, private, and service passports.