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Saudi Arabia Inaugurates National Defense University

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
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Saudi Arabia Inaugurates National Defense University

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman inaugurated on Monday the National Defense University, formerly the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior Saudi officials, including Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, who said the university was the crowning achievement of the process of developing the Defense Ministry.

The university will help support the capabilities of the national security system through professional military education.

The Defense Ministry will continue to forge ahead in implementing the directives of the Saudi leadership in line with Saudi Vision 2030, added Al-Ruwaili.

It will continue to modernize military education institutions and invest in human capital, which are the cornerstones of the Defense Ministry to achieve cohesion with the other national forces, he went on to say.

The inauguration of the university will "pave the way for a new phase and professional military education in the Kingdom."

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

It will work as a research hub to support decisions and resolve problems and provide high level services to society according to the best standards, stressed Al-Ruwaili.

The National Defense University aims to achieve academic and professional excellence, qualify professional national security cadres and carry out scientific research in national defense and security. It will also organize cultural and awareness events related to national security.

The Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College boasts a rich history dating back to 1958, when it was established as "the institute of great officers". Its mission was to train and qualify Saudi Arabian Army officers for command and staff duties.

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Over the years, the institute underwent several name changes: "the institute of senior officers" and "the Saudi command and staff college", reflecting its evolving role and expanding scope.

For over six decades, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College played a pivotal role in shaping military thought in Saudi Arabia, under the slogan "Science, Thought, Planning". It has provided military education and training to a distinguished group of officers from the Saudi Armed Forces, other military and security sectors, and from other nations.

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Gulf

GCC Secretary-General Condemns Attack on WFP Aid Convoy in Sudan's North Kordofan

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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GCC Secretary-General Condemns Attack on WFP Aid Convoy in Sudan's North Kordofan

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi has expressed his condemnation regarding the targeting of a World Food Program (WFP) aid convoy in the North Kordofan State in Sudan.

He characterized this assault as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and an unacceptable transgression of the rules and norms that safeguard humanitarian operations, SPA reported.

"The targeting of relief convoys and humanitarian workers is a reprehensible act that obstructs the delivery of vital assistance to those affected," he said, adding that such actions exacerbate the suffering of civilians, particularly given the dire humanitarian conditions currently prevailing in Sudan.

Albudaiwi also referenced the statement of the GCC Supreme Council’s 46th Session, which reaffirmed support for peace-building efforts aimed at preserving Sudan’s security, stability, and sovereignty.

The statement also underscored the commitment to political efforts to reach a ceasefire and achieve a political transition in Sudan through the establishment of an independent civilian government, fulfilling the Sudanese people’s aspirations for peace, growth, and stability.

Gulf

World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The World Defense Show opened in Riyadh on Sunday, bringing together defense and military companies from around the globe to showcase advanced technologies, as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to localize its military industries and strengthen domestic supply chains.

The third edition of the exhibition is being held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and organized by the General Authority for Military Industries from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12.

It features official delegations, government entities, and international firms operating in the defense and security sectors.

The event comes as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a comprehensive national defense industry and localize more than 50 percent of military spending, while boosting operational readiness and strategic autonomy.

Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries and chairman of the exhibition’s supervisory committee, said the show reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to innovation, localization, and the development of an integrated defense ecosystem.

He said the exhibition includes live air and ground demonstrations, static displays, and newly introduced zones designed to enhance cooperation between government bodies and major national and international defense companies.

Andrew Pearcey, chief executive of the World Defense Show, said the event would feature a comprehensive program starting with an official delegations initiative linking senior officials with investors and industry leaders to support international industrial and technological cooperation.

Pearcey said the “Defense Industry Lab” would highlight emerging technologies and applied research, while dedicated zones would focus on naval systems and Saudi supply chains, connecting local manufacturers and small and medium-sized enterprises with global firms.

The program also includes meetings between Saudi government entities and industry representatives to discuss operational requirements and investment opportunities.

He added that the venue includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and large display areas, allowing the exhibition to host integrated air, land, and maritime demonstrations.

Participation in the 2026 edition is expected to exceed previous shows, reflecting growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s defense market.

South Korea’s air force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, will take part in the exhibition for the first time in the Middle East. The South Korean Air Force said it would deploy 9 T-50 fighter jets, including 1 reserve aircraft, 4 C-130 transport planes, and about 120 personnel.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Saturday the Rapid Support Forces’ attack against a humanitarian aid convoy in Sudan’s Kordofan.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom expressed its strong condemnation of the attack against Al-Kuweik Military Hospital, a humanitarian aid convoy affiliated with the World Food Program, and a vehicle transporting displaced civilians.

“These acts are unjustifiable under any circumstances and are flagrant violations of all humanitarian norms and relevant international agreements,” it stressed.

“The Kingdom called on the RSF to immediately cease these violations and to fulfill their moral and humanitarian obligations by ensuring the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023,” it added.

The Kingdom reiterated its firm position in support of Sudan’s unity, security, and stability, the need to preserve its legitimate institutions.

It voiced its rejection of “foreign interference and the continued actions of certain parties in supplying illicit weapons, mercenaries, and foreign fighters, despite their stated support for a political solution,” saying such “conduct is a primary factor in prolonging the conflict and exacerbating the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

A drone attack by the RSF hit a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, a doctors’ group said, a day after a World Food Program aid convoy was targeted.

The attack occurred close to the city of Rahad in North Kordofan province, said the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the country’s ongoing war. The vehicle was transporting displaced people who fled fighting in the Dubeiker area, the group said in a statement. Among the dead children were two infants.