DiplomaticQuarter: US Embassy celebrates 80 years of ‘shared history’ with Saudi Arabia
The US Legation opened in Jeddah in 1942. Full diplomatic relations began in 1940 and the US Mission, located in a traditional house in the old city center, was upgraded to the status of an embassy in 1949
Updated 25 May 2022
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: The US Embassy in Riyadh has marked the 80th anniversary of the establishment of its first diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia, highlighting what it described as “eight decades of shared history, strong partnership and united vision” with the Kingdom.
The US Legation opened in Jeddah in 1942. Full diplomatic relations began in 1940 and the US Mission, located in a traditional house in the old city center, was upgraded to the status of an embassy in 1949.
In 1952, the embassy moved to the current consulate general location, which at the time was an isolated, beachfront property to the north of the city.
Along with all other foreign missions, the US Embassy was transferred to Riyadh in 1984. The former embassy compound in Jeddah is now a consulate general in the heart of one of the Middle East’s most dynamic cities.
The theme of this year’s celebration was “Shared History, Strong Partnership and United Vision,” highlighting the enduring foundation of the strategic ties and friendship between the US and Saudi Arabia.
“From the very early days of modern Saudi Arabia, the US, its leaders, its companies and its people supported their Saudi friends on their remarkable journey toward success and prosperity,” the US Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement to Arab News.
“The US-Saudi relationship has naturally evolved over the years. It has grown to encompass trade, culture, education, security, and especially the close ties between the Saudi and American people. What has not changed during the past 80 years is the shared vision that has always guided the cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia in these and many other areas,” it added.
“As Saudi Arabia pursues the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, the US is supporting the Kingdom’s efforts in the same spirit of partnership that has been one of the key pillars of US–Saudi ties. Today, in every field, in every sector, Americans and Saudis are working together, learning together, conducting research together and, more recently, performing together in concerts, films and athletic competitions.”
This engagement translates into $54 billion annually in US-Saudi trade and investment.
American companies have been an integral part of the Vision 2030 economic transformation of Saudi Arabia, while the US and Saudi Arabia also enjoy robust cultural and educational ties.
Historic Jeddah Program launches Culture Square as new landmark for arts and heritage
Culture Square, which will span 26,000 square meters, will feature two flagship facilities
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Culture’a Historic Jeddah Program has unveiled the Culture Square, an initiative designed to revitalize the historic Jeddah area and establish it as a global hub for arts and heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Situated on the banks of Lake Al-Arbaeen, the project blends the region’s rich history with contemporary innovation, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal of enhancing cultural tourism and preserving heritage, SPA added.
Culture Square, which will span 26,000 square meters, will feature two flagship facilities: the Center for Performing Arts and the Digital Arts Museum “TeamLab Without Borders.”
The Center for Performing Arts will offer a range of cultural activities, including theatrical performances, international festivals, and film screenings.
It will also house the headquarters of the Red Sea Film Festival, a state-of-the-art theater with 868 seats, five cinema halls, dialogue spaces, and multi-purpose areas for cultural exchange.
Adjacent to this, the TeamLab Museum spans 10,000 square meters and will showcase 80 interconnected works that merge art, technology, and nature.
At the heart of the development lies the restored Prince of the Sea House, an historic octagonal structure once used as a lighthouse to guide ships, which reflects the area’s architectural heritage and highlights the cultural richness of Jeddah’s past.
Its preservation is part of broader efforts to maintain the character of the historic district while introducing modern elements, such as air purification systems, touchless elevators with UV sterilization, and water recycling technologies for irrigation.
Saudi Arabia, Lithuania sign air transport services agreement
Riyadh, Vilnius to work together to develop regulatory frameworks
Updated 50 min 25 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Lithuania signed an agreement on Monday to cooperate in civil aviation and air transport services.
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, and Ramunas Davidonis, the Lithuanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement in Riyadh.
The two countries will work to develop regulatory frameworks for air transport traffic and expand the operational network of their national air carriers.
The cooperation will further enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center for civil aviation and air transport services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to position the country as a hub for aviation connectivity to 250 international destinations, serving an expected 330 million passengers annually by 2030.
French President Macron arrives in Riyadh for official visit
Was eceived at Al-Yamamah Palace by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Two leaders held an expanded meeting for extensive talks
Updated 25 min 10 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Monday evening for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Macron was received at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who introduced the French president to Saudi ministers during an official reception ceremony.
The two leaders held an expanded meeting for extensive talks, SPA reported.
Earlier on Monday, upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport, Macron was received by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, along with the Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh.
Also in attendance were Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, Saudi ambassador to France, and Patrick Maisonnave, French ambassador to the Kingdom.
The visit underscores the strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and France, with discussions expected to focus on water resource sustainability and other key areas of cooperation, SPA added.
What to expect from French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Saudi Arabia
From cultural cooperation to resolving conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Macron has much to discuss on state visit
The Elysee Palace has dubbed the visit “exceptional,” signaling the strategic importance of Franco-Saudi ties
Updated 41 min 25 sec ago
Arlette Khouri
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a landmark three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, where a one-on-one meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman anchors an intensive diplomatic schedule.
Arriving in Riyadh on Monday evening, Macron was welcomed with an official ceremony. The Elysee Palace has dubbed the Dec. 2-4 visit “exceptional,” signaling the strategic importance the French government ascribes to Franco-Saudi relations.
It is the latest of several high-profile exchanges between the two nations, building upon the crown prince’s visit to France in April 2018, which laid the foundation for a new era in bilateral relations, Macron’s Gulf tour in December 2021, which concluded in Jeddah, and the crown prince’s return to Paris in June 2023.
According to the Elysee, Macron will first participate in expanded bilateral talks aimed at implementing a new strategic partnership framework. These discussions will establish joint sectoral committees between the two governments.
Macron was welcomed with an official ceremony on Monday. (AFP)
He will then hold private talks with the crown prince, followed by a working dinner bringing together both leaders and associated government officials from both countries. The two leaders are expected to focus on forging joint diplomatic initiatives to address mounting regional tensions.
Lebanon will take center stage in the talks, reflecting both nations’ longstanding influence in the country’s affairs. “Both France and Saudi Arabia have historically played crucial roles in supporting Lebanon,” a diplomatic source noted.
According to the Elysee, the leaders will explore joint initiatives to bolster the ceasefire agreed last week between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and to address Lebanon’s long-running political deadlock.
“We aim to chart a path forward together — not only to secure a presidential election but also to establish a framework for implementing essential reforms demanded by both the Lebanese people and the international community,” the source added.
Lebanon will take center stage in the talks, reflecting both nations’ longstanding influence in the country’s affairs. (AFP)
Building on commitments made during Macron’s December 2021 visit to Riyadh, the two governments have established a joint humanitarian fund targeting Lebanon’s pressing needs, so as to help the Lebanese population navigate through multiple, overlapping crises.
The Gaza conflict will be another critical focus of discussions. Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, the Palestinian territory has come under intense Israeli bombardment, leading to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
French officials have noted Riyadh’s prominent role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, participating in talks with French counterparts and leading a contact group through the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“Both nations share common ground on Gaza,” an Elysee spokesperson said. “We are aligned in our urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.”
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The talks will also encompass broader regional security concerns, according to French officials.
“Syrian developments must be addressed given their impact on regional stability,” the Elysee said, highlighting that discussions will also focus on monitoring Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah via Syrian regime-controlled territory.
Beyond foreign policy matters, Tuesday’s agenda will focus on economic and environmental initiatives. Macron will tour Riyadh’s newly inaugurated elevated metro system, which features significant French technical involvement.
Saudi-French cooperation is already expanding into previously unexplored or underdeveloped sectors, spanning tourism, fintech, cybersecurity, renewable energy, telecommunications, space technology and artificial intelligence.
Macron will tour Riyadh’s newly inaugurated elevated metro system. (AFP)
Macron will join world leaders at the One Planet Summit’s plenary session, where sovereign wealth funds will convene to discuss climate initiatives. He will co-chair talks with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Afterward, Macron will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif in Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh, where he will share a lunch with Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, in the presence of his counterpart Rachida Dati and various French and Saudi cultural sector representatives.
The day will continue with Macron attending the Saudi-French Economic Forum, where he will review key outcomes before joining the One Water Summit. The summit, co-chaired by the Saudi crown prince and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will bring together world leaders to tackle pressing water challenges.
“Both nations share common ground on Gaza,” an Elysee spokesperson said. (AFP)
During the summit, leaders will participate in a series of roundtable discussions exploring water security, resource management, and their broader implications for global politics and economics.
Macron’s visit also coincides with Saudi Arabia hosting COP16, a global platform addressing desertification under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.”
Cultural ties will take center stage on Wednesday at the historic AlUla archaeological site in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where Macron will travel with a delegation of cultural officials.
He will tour the site before meeting with French-Saudi cultural cooperation stakeholders in the presence of Jean-Yves Le Drian, president of the French Agency for AlUla Development, and his counterpart Abir Al-Akel, who chairs the Royal Commission for AlUla.
AlUla stands as an example of Saudi-French partnership, showcasing collaborative expertise in culture, archaeology, construction, tourism and hospitality.
Cultural ties will take center stage on Wednesday at the historic AlUla archaeological site in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)
The state visit will conclude with Macron presiding over the groundbreaking of Villa Hegra, a new cultural hub designed to foster artistic collaboration between France and Saudi Arabia.
This symbolic project, establishing a dedicated artists’ residence, will mark a poignant final event of Macron’s three-day diplomatic mission.
Saudi FM participates in Cairo conference to support humanitarian work in Gaza
Prince Faisal says crisis has ‘reached an unbearable limit’
Kingdom has provided more than 6,600 tonnes of food, shelter, medical supplies, to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023
Updated 02 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired Saudi Arabia’s delegation at Monday’s Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza.
Prince Faisal said during his speech that the humanitarian crisis in Palestine had “reached an unbearable limit, and in no way can the deterioration of the situation in the region be allowed any more.”
At least 44,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, and more than 100,000 have been injured.
Prince Faisal said that Israeli actions against children, women and the elderly; the destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip; the forced displacement of 2 million Palestinians and the confiscation of their lands would “perpetuate suffering, fuel extremism in the region … and undermine the chances of coexistence and sustainable peace.”
He said that Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and government policies to affect the legal and historic status of Jerusalem “represent direct attacks on international law and threaten the two-state solution.”
Prince Faisal stressed the importance of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also warned that the Israeli-approved law to prohibit the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from working inside Israel “would have catastrophic consequences for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”
Saudi Arabia has provided more than 6,600 tonnes of food, shelter equipment and medical supplies, including ambulances, to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
Prince Faisal said that the “brutal genocide in Gaza is the biggest test of the international order,” and called for the recognition of the Palestinian state and the respect of all UN resolutions.
Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, also attended the conference.
