Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince met the British Foreign Secretary on Monday for a series of high-level talks as both countries look to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
After landing in the modern city of Neom, Dominic Raab discussed a wide range of issues with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, setting out Britain’s ambition for a closer partnership with Saudi Arabia through trade and regional security.
Mr Raab also met Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, with whom global priorities such as the six-year conflict in Yemen were discussed.
Mr Raab is pushing for a political solution to the crisis after a recent surge in Houthi violence, and is focused on humanitarian aid reaching those in need. The two also discussed broader developments in the Middle East and the efforts needed to enhance security and stability.
The region was the focus of a flurry of diplomatic activity after an 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, with international efforts under way to strengthen the ceasefire in place.
High on the agenda were security issues with Iran, which continues to breach the nuclear agreement it entered in 2015. The National recently disclosed Tehran had built an arsenal of modern missiles in a secret mountain hideout that threatens Saudi Arabia's security.
“Saudi Arabia is a longstanding partner and close ally of the UK, playing a pivotal role in regional stability,” Mr Raab said after the talks. “The UK reaffirms our commitment to tackling our shared security challenges, including Iranian threats and the continued conflict in Yemen.”
With both countries having vaccinated a large part of their population against Covid-19, they are now looking to increase their trade ties.
Saudi Arabia is among Britain’s most important trading partners with more than $11 billion in cross-trading between the countries, involving about 200 joint ventures, according to latest figures.
During last year’s G20 summit, Saudi Arabia, then the host country, committed to the new goal of 50 per cent of its domestic power comprising of renewable energy by 2030. It has also launched the Saudi Green Initiative to plant 10 billion trees in the country to mitigate carbon emissions.
“We used this opportunity to look to the future, including building our economies back better from Covid-19 and our work to tackle climate change ahead of Cop26,” Mr Raab said.
The duo also discussed female empowerment, a key component of the reforms initiated by Prince Mohammed in recent years as part of the Vision 2030 programme.
Mr Raab, who has two children, is a keen advocate of women’s education and set the UK a global target of getting 40 million more girls around the world into school by 2025.
"I welcomed Saudi Arabia’s progress towards women’s empowerment," Mr Raab said after the meeting. "The Kingdom shares the UK’s vision of making sure girls globally are able to access 12 years of quality education."
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar, Prince Faisal, Minister of Commerce Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, and Ambassador of the UK to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton, among other Saudi and British officials.
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
