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New Saudi Support for Yemen’s Budget, Fuel Supply to Power Electricity Stations

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Braik Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber during the signing of one of the agreements. (Turki Al-Agili)
Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Braik Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber during the signing of one of the agreements. (Turki Al-Agili)
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New Saudi Support for Yemen’s Budget, Fuel Supply to Power Electricity Stations

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Braik Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber during the signing of one of the agreements. (Turki Al-Agili)
Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Braik Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber during the signing of one of the agreements. (Turki Al-Agili)

Saudi Arabia has launched a new phase in its ongoing support for the Yemeni government by signing two development agreements and a memorandum of cooperation with Yemen through the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY).

The agreements aim to boost economic stability, improve basic services, and build institutional capacity.

On September 20, Saudi Arabia announced an additional $368 million (SAR 1.38 billion) in aid to the Yemeni people through the program.

The agreements include direct support to help the Yemeni government cover its budget deficit and address urgent economic and development challenges. They also provide fuel supplies needed to operate power plants across different provinces, improving services and increasing electricity availability for citizens.

The memorandum of cooperation signed with Yemen’s Ministry of Interior aims to strengthen the ministry’s institutional, technical, and technological capacities. It also seeks to enhance knowledge sharing with Saudi counterparts to boost operational efficiency and develop the ministry’s infrastructure.

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Braik hailed the Saudi assistance as a “new milestone” in the enduring partnership between the two countries.

He said the agreements address core needs of the Yemeni people and reflect a broader phase of effective cooperation in supporting the state budget, powering electricity plants, and building the institutional capacities of the Interior Ministry.

“What we are signing today is not just financial support or development programs. It is a sincere expression of a firm and principled position by the Kingdom, standing by Yemen in its struggle for stability and recovery,” bin Braik said.

“Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, the Kingdom has always been a reliable supporter in times of hardship and a partner in nation-building. This support is not a temporary reaction, but a strategic choice rooted in deep historical ties between our two nations,” he stressed.

The prime minister added that the Saudi contribution will provide a strong boost to Yemen’s economic reform and recovery efforts, enabling the government to meet its obligations. He noted that 85 percent of the support will be allocated to paying public sector salaries.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber said the initiative marks another milestone in the close cooperation between the two countries.

“This support reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to Yemen and directly addresses its economic, service, and institutional needs,” he stated.

The SDRPY has so far implemented 265 projects and initiatives in eight key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transport, agriculture and fisheries, capacity building for government institutions, and development programs across various provinces.

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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.

Gulf

OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
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OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat strongly condemned on Saturday the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad.

The secretariat stressed its categorical rejection of terrorism in all its forms, especially those targeting places of worship.

It underlined its firm stance in condemning these criminal acts, which are contrary to human values and religious principles.

The OIC offered its sincere condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and to the families of the victims.

It also reiterated its full solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and boost its security and stability.

At least 30 people killed in a suicide bombing at a Muslim mosque during Friday prayers.