Gulf News

Najaf Becomes Third Saudi Air Route to Iraq

Gulf Najaf Airport will begin receiving direct flights from Dammam starting early June (INA)

Najaf Becomes Third Saudi Air Route to Iraq

Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority announced on Friday that direct flights will start from Dammam to Najaf, Iraq, from June 1, strengthening the bond between…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah affirms that getting a Hajj visa is through official channels or via the “Nusuk Hajj” platform for those without local offices (Photo by Mohammed Al-Mana)

Saudi Arabia Warns of Fake Hajj Schemes

Saudi Arabia cautioned potential Hajj pilgrims on Friday to beware of fraudulent schemes advertised on social media in various countries, urging everyone to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Makkah)
Gulf  Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Yemen. SPA

Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with Yemeni Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Yemen, Dr. Shaya Mohsin…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf The assistance is in keeping with Saudi Arabia's humanitarian role in supporting the brotherly Palestinian people in times of crisis. (SPA)

48th Saudi Relief Airplane with Aid for Palestinians in Gaza Arrives in Egypt

The 48th Saudi relief airplane, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, arrived…

Gulf The United States vetoed last week a United Nations Security Council resolution that recommended Palestine's full membership in the world body. (AFP)

European Countries Prepared to Recognize Palestinian State amid Ongoing Saudi Pressure

Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein al-Sheikh stressed that several countries, specifically European…

Ghazi al-Harthi (Riyadh)

Gulf Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin AbdulKarim El-Khereiji and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia Francisco José Coy Granados. (SPA)

Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Signs Two MoUs with Colombian Counterpart

Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin AbdulKarim El-Khereiji and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia Francisco José Coy Granados,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Vendors selling bread wait for customers at the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 19, 2024. (AFP)

OIC Regrets Security Council's Failure to Accept Full UN Membership for Palestinian State

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed on Friday its profound disappointment with the UN Security Council's decision to deny Palestine full UN…

Gulf Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi.

GCC: Failure to Recognize Full UN Membership for Palestinians Does Not Help Achieve Peace

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi emphasized on Friday the GCC’s firm position in support of the right of the…

Gulf A general view taken from Jerusalem's Mount of Olives shows the holy city with the Dome of the Rock mosque in the center in the early hours of April 19, 2024. (AFP)

Muslim World League Expresses Deep Regret over Obstructed Palestinian UN Membership

The Muslim World League (MWL) voiced on Friday its profound disappointment at the failure to grant Palestine full membership in the United Nations. In a…

Gulf UAE Voices Deep Concern Over Ongoing Regional Tensions, Calls for Restraint 

UAE Voices Deep Concern Over Ongoing Regional Tensions, Calls for Restraint 

The United Arab Emirates expressed on Friday its deep concern over ongoing regional tensions, calling for refraining from any steps that further exacerbate…

Gulf FILE PHOTO - An Etihad Airways Boeing 777-3FX company aircraft takes off at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, France, August 9, 2016. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/File Photo

UAE’s Etihad Airways Says Operations are Back to Normal

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways' flight operations are back to normal after the harsh weather conditions in the United Arab Emirates over recent days, the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Saudi Arabia Expresses Regret over UN Failure to Recognize Palestinian State through Membership

Saudi Arabia Expresses Regret over UN Failure to Recognize Palestinian State through Membership

Saudi Arabia expressed regret on Friday over the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution accepting full membership of the State of…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Assistant Defense Minister Talal Al-Otaibi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday on a two-day visit. (Pakistan's Ministry of Defense)

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Seek to Bolster Security, Defense Ties

Saudi Assistant Defense Minister Talal Al-Otaibi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday on a two-day visit to put the finishing touches on bilateral defense projects…

Ghazi al-Harthi (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah talks to journalists during a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart at the foreign ministry in Islamabad, Pakistan, 16 April 2024. (EPA)

Saudi, Spanish FMs Discuss Gaza Conflict 

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a telephone call on Thursday with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares. …

Gulf Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral International Affairs and Supervisor General of the Public Diplomacy Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi meets with Bahrain’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Ali bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa in Riyadh. (SPA)

King Salman Receives Written Message from King of Bahrain 

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud received on Thursday a written message from Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa…

Gulf Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah

Saudi, Belgian FMs Discuss Gaza Situation

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Friday from Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during their meeting on Wednesday in Amman (Petra News Agency).

Bahrain, Jordan Stress Need to Reduce Regional Tension, Military Escalation

The kings of Jordan and Bahrain underlined the importance of reducing tensions in the Middle East and avoiding military escalation. During a meeting in Amman…

Asharq Al Awsat (Manama)
Gulf Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia, EU Discuss the Escalation in the Region

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has received a phone call from the High Representative of the European Union for…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, at the headquarters of the Saudi foreign ministry in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Ministers Hold Separate Meetings with Armenian FM

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, on Wednesday in Riyadh where discussion focused on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Members of the Israel Border Police patrol the alleys of Jerusalem's old city ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, in Jerusalem, 09 April 2024. (EPA)

OIC Urges Intensified Efforts to Stop War Crimes against Palestinians in Israeli Prisons

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed on Wednesday its concern over the intensification of arbitrary detention campaigns carried out by…

Gulf Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Saudi Leadership Congratulates Syrian President on Evacuation Day

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud sent on Wednesday a cable of congratulations to Syrian Bashar al-Assad on his country's…

Gulf Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, April 17, 2024. (Reuters)

Qatar Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks at ‘Delicate Phase' 

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday talks on a Gaza ceasefire and a release of hostages are…

Gulf A taxi drives through a flooded street following heavy rains in Dubai early on April 17, 2024. (AFP)

Storm Dumps Heaviest Rain Ever Recorded in UAE, Flooding Roads and Dubai Airport 

Heavy thunderstorms lashed the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, dumping the heaviest rain ever recorded in the country in the span of hours as it flooded out…

Gulf Kuwaiti MP Saleh Ashour invited lawmakers to attend the new National Assembly’s opener on Sunday, April 21

Kuwait National Assembly ‘Opener’ Set for April 21

Kuwaiti MP Saleh Ashour, the second oldest lawmaker in the National Assembly who will chair the house’s opening session, invited lawmakers on Tuesday to attend…

Mirza al-Khuweildi (Kuwait)
Gulf The shipment has 43 tons of relief aid, including electric appliances. SPA

21st Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Poland to Deliver Aid to Ukrainians

Saudi Arabia has delivered its 21st shipment of relief aid to Ukraine. The plane, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief),…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Discusses Regional Developments with UAE, Qatari Leaders

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a telephone call on Tuesday from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Flooding is seen in Oman. (ONA)

OIC Secretary General Offers Condolences to Oman over Flood Victims

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Taha offered on Tuesday his condolences to the Sultanate of Oman for the tragic loss…

Gulf President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari receives Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his accompanying delegation in Islamabad. (SPA)

Pakistani President Receives Saudi Foreign Minister, High-Level Delegation in Islamabad

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari received on Tuesday Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, who is on an official visit to the…

Gulf The agreement was signed by Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the KSrelief Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah and World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain. (SPA)

KSrelief, WFP Sign Agreement to Provide Food Aid in South Sudan

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed on Monday a joint cooperation agreement with the World Food Program to provide…