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Gulf

IAEA Calls from Riyadh for Unified Int’l Efforts in Emergency Preparedness

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a video message opening the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies that kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday. Asharq Al-Awsat
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a video message opening the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies that kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday. Asharq Al-Awsat
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IAEA Calls from Riyadh for Unified Int’l Efforts in Emergency Preparedness

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a video message opening the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies that kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday. Asharq Al-Awsat
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a video message opening the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies that kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday. Asharq Al-Awsat

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for strengthening international coordination to address newly emerging global challenges, and to employ innovation and modern technologies to enhance collective capabilities in responding to nuclear emergencies.

In a video message opening the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies (EPR2025), which kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said: “First, nuclear energy depends on trust, and this trust is earned through robust, science-based emergency preparedness and response."

"Public confidence hinges on people knowing that authorities are prepared and seeing them act effectively when it matters most. Nuclear safety, security and emergency preparedness must come first, and must be credible and transparent," he added.

The four-day conference organized by the IAEA in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) will identify priorities for strengthening emergency preparedness and response (EPR) under the theme “Building the Future in an Evolving World.”

The event is gathering more than 450 participants from over 100 countries and four international organizations. Experts, emergency responders, regulators and technical specialists will share experiences, present new research and discuss practical measures to strengthen global nuclear and radiological EPR.

Khalid Aleissa, NRRC Chief Executive Officer and President of the Conference, underlined the importance of institutional preparedness when dealing with radiological accidents.

“The history of our field is marked by moments that tested the boundaries of science, governance and human resolve,” he said.

The “conference stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to advancing the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, while upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and preparedness,” he said.

“Through the integration of emerging technologies, the exchange of practical experience, and deeper collaboration with the IAEA and our international partners, we collectively enhance global resilience in nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response,” Aleissa added.

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Gulf

Empty Quarter: Reservoir of Energy and Graveyard for Drones

The Empty Quarter lies atop two of the world’s largest oil and gas fields (SPA)
The Empty Quarter lies atop two of the world’s largest oil and gas fields (SPA)
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Empty Quarter: Reservoir of Energy and Graveyard for Drones

The Empty Quarter lies atop two of the world’s largest oil and gas fields (SPA)
The Empty Quarter lies atop two of the world’s largest oil and gas fields (SPA)

Stretching across the southern Arabian Peninsula, the Empty Quarter desert spreads like an endless sea of sand. It covers three Saudi administrative regions and extends across four countries, accounting for more than 67% of Saudi Arabia’s sand accumulations and about 22% of the Kingdom’s total land area.

Occupying nearly a fifth of the Arabian Peninsula, the vast desert is viewed by observers as both a reservoir of energy and a graveyard for drones targeting Saudi Arabia. Saudi defense authorities frequently announce interceptions of attacks headed for oil installations in the desert.

The Empty Quarter, one of the world’s largest sand seas, is also among its harshest environments, with temperatures reaching unbearable levels.

National Geographic describes it as a land “tamed only by the most resilient and wise of men despite its harshness,” a testament to the endurance of nomadic Bedouin tribes who forged unique bonds of kinship and marriage across generations.

Beneath the harsh landscape lie immense riches. The Empty Quarter sits atop some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves. Nearby lie giant fields such as Shaybah, among the world’s largest crude oil fields on the desert’s edge, and Jafurah, Saudi Arabia’s largest unconventional gas field discovered to date. Jafurah alone holds an estimated 200 trillion standard cubic feet of gas and more than 60 billion barrels of condensate.

The Jafurah oil field. Aramco

The result is a striking contrast: a silent desert resting above resources that help drive the global economy.

Since March 5, the Empty Quarter has taken on another, unexpected role — a graveyard for drones targeting Saudi Arabia.

In just one week, its sands swallowed more than 63 drones as Saudi defenses carried out 27 interception and destruction operations, preventing them from striking the Shaybah field and reinforcing confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to protect energy supplies and ensure their delivery to global markets.

Ironically, three countries across which the Empty Quarter stretches — Saudi Arabia, which holds about 80% of the desert, along with Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the east, have faced Iranian drone, ballistic missile and cruise missile attacks.

The Shaybah oil field. Reuters

While many civilian and military sites have been affected, the attempt to target Shaybah marked what analysts described as an escalation threatening global energy sources.

A recent study by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) found that the Empty Quarter was once far different from the barren landscape it is known for today.

In the distant past, it was home to lakes, rivers and green plains that supported rich ecosystems and helped early human populations spread across the Arabian Peninsula.

Today it is among Saudi Arabia’s hottest and driest regions, with average rainfall of less than 50 millimeters a year and summer temperatures exceeding 50°C.

But researchers say these harsh conditions followed a wetter climate period known as “Green Arabia,” which lasted between 11,000 and 5,500 years ago in the late Quaternary era.

During that time, strong monsoon rains from Africa and India — driven by orbital climate shifts — fueled vegetation and wildlife across the region.

The desert’s name reflects both its scale and isolation. Saudi sources say it was called the “Empty Quarter” because it occupies roughly a quarter of the Arabian Peninsula and lacks permanent human settlement, aside from a small number of nomadic Bedouins, with limited wildlife and vegetation.

Some sources also refer to parts of the desert as “Al-Ahqaf,” believed to apply mainly to its southern reaches between Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.

Tradition links the area to the ancient people of ‘Ad and the legendary city of Iram, said to lie buried beneath the sands.

The Empty Quarter is more than a vast expanse of desert. It is a landscape where extremes meet — immense natural wealth beneath a silent sea of dunes, and a remote terrain that has quietly become a shield protecting vital energy supplies.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Escalation with Spanish Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Escalation with Spanish Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Thursday from his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares.

During the call, they discussed the regional escalation and the efforts being exerted in this regard.

Gulf

Pakistani Prime Minister Arrives in Jeddah

Pakistan's Prime Minister arriving in Jeddah - SPA
Pakistan's Prime Minister arriving in Jeddah - SPA
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Pakistani Prime Minister Arrives in Jeddah

Pakistan's Prime Minister arriving in Jeddah - SPA
Pakistan's Prime Minister arriving in Jeddah - SPA

Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his accompanying delegation arrived in Jeddah on Thursday, SPA reported.

At King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Pakistani prime minister was welcomed by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, and several other officials.