SAUDI ARABIA IN FOCUS
Monthly update from the Saudi Mission to the EU| Issue #1 |September 2018
Inside this issue
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 88th National Day
About Ambassador Saad Alarify
Saudi FM & HR/VP
Spokesman for the coalition forces in the EP
Vision 2030
Saudi Women a new Driving force in Saudi Arabia P4
The Efforts of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and
Relief Centre
From the Ambassador
It is with great pleasure that I present the
first edition of Saudi Arabia in focus since
presenting my credentials and officially
commencing my new position as Head of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mission to
the European Union.
I am assuming my Ambassadorship during
a very important transition in Saudi
Arabia, and I am confident that the Saudi
Arabia partnership with the European
Union will develop further.
These coming months will be very
productive for my team and I as we focus
on pressing issues such as strengthening
our trade partnership and peace in the
region.
Saad bin Mohammad Alarify
Head of the Saudi Mission to the
European Union
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Follow Ambassador Alarify: @SaadAlarify
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 88th National Day
On the occasion of celebrating the 88th Anniversary of the Founding of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud, I take this opportunity, on
behalf of the members of our diplomatic mission and my self, to renew our
pledge of allegiance to our nation and its King the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, and its Crown Prince Mohammad Bin
Salman, may Allah protect them.
To the people of Saudi Arabia, the anniversary this year bears particular
significance, which stems from the transformative progress being made in the
Kingdom in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030, and aims to build a moderate
and prosperous society in all respects.
2018 also marks a significant year in Saudi-EU relations, with the establishment
of the Saudi Mission to the European Union, dedicated to taking our partnership
with the EU to new heights of excellence. Guided by our shared aspiration for
prosperity and progress, we have intensified efforts to fully implement Vision
2030, and deepen our partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilisation.
Our ambition is for the long term. It goes beyond replenishing sources of income
that weakened or preserved what we already achieved. We are determined to
build a thriving country, in which all citizens can fulfil their dreams, hopes and
ambitions. Therefore, we will not rest until our nation is a leader in providing
opportunities for all, through education, training, and with high quality services
such as employment initiatives, health, housing and entertainment.
We commit ourselves to provide world-class government services, which
effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our citizens. Together we will
continue building a better country, fulfilling our dream of prosperity and
unlocking the talent, potential, and dedication of our young men and women.
As we celebrate the 88h Anniversary of our National Day, we can say with
confidence that Saudi Arabia will God-willing reach greater heights of success
and realise the goals of our youth and that Saudi Arabia-EU relationship is poised
to expand and make significant contribution to fashioning a better future for all
people and building a peaceful and harmonious world.
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 They Said
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Follow Ambassador Alarify: @SaadAlarify
About Amba ssador
Saad Alarify
The Custodian of the Two Holy
Mo s q u e s K i n g S a l m a n B i n
Ab d u l a z i z a p p o i n t e d H E
Ambassador Saad Alarify as Head
of the Mission of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia to the European
Union on November 05, 2017. His Excellency presented his credentials to
the President of the European Council HE Mr. Donald Tusk and officially
assumed his position on January 12, 2018.
Ambassador Saad Alarify graduated from California State University, where
he also received his Masters degree. In 1981, the Saudi Fund for
Development (SFD) assigned him in the technical department as projects
engineer until 1983, where Ambassador Alarify became an active member in
the general secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in July
2012. His Excellency established the GCC Mission in Sanaa and assumed
the position of head of the GCC Mission in Sanaa, The Republic of Yemen.
Between 2013 & 2016 Ambassador Alarify was closely involved in the
National (Yemeni) Dialogue Conference, as part of the GCC initiative and
the UN Security Council Resolution, to reconcile differences in the
Republic of Yemen as well as the Kuwait peace talks to end the conflict in
Yemen & the United Nations sponsored peace talks in Geneva.
Saudi Foreign Minister HE Adel Aljubeir in Brussels
The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE Adel Aljubeir visited
Brussels on four different occasions, reflecting the growing political and
symbolic importance of Saudi EU relations.
On 22 February 2018, HE Adel Aljubeir addressed the Foreign Affairs
Committee in the European Parliament and exchanged views with its members.
On 26 February 2018 ,the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union
invited the Foreign Minister, alongside other members of the LAS ministerial
delegation on Jerusalem to discuss reviving the Middle East Peace Process.
On 24 & 25 April 2018, the Foreign Minister participated in the Supporting the
Future of Syria and the Region - Brussels conference
On 12th July 2018, HE Federica Mogherini ,EU High Representative & Vice
President and HE Adel Aljubeir, met on the margins of the NATO Summit in
Brussels. It was also an opportunity for the Minister to meet their Excellencies
the Permanent Representatives of EU member states to the EU in Brussels.
These engagements covered a broad range of regional and bilateral issues,
especially the need to address the full array of regional threats and the strategic
nature of our relationship and discussed ways to further deepen the EU-Saudi
Arabia policy dialogue and sectoral cooperation.
The High Representative/Vice-President welcomed Saudi Arabia's willingness
to strengthen its relationship with the European Union, as shown by the
establishment of a Saudi Mission solely accredited to the European Union and
the setup of a new EU department in the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
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 The Ambassador's Activities in Brussels & Strasbourg
HE Ambassador Saad Alarify initiated his ambassadorship in Brussels with
a wide array of meetings to engage with different EU institutions including
the European Parliament, European External Action Service and European
Commission.

Spokesman for the coalition

forces in the European HE Mrs. Helga Schmidt, Secretary General of
the European External Action Service.
Parliament

The spokesman for the coalition forces in

support of legitimacy in Yemen, and the
accompanying delegation f rom the HE Mr. Gilles De Kerchove, EU Counter -
Ministries of Defence & Foreign Affairs of Terrorism Coordinator.
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visited the
European Parliament on June 21, aiming to
exchange views on the current situation in
Yemen with members of the Delegation HE Madame Michèle Alliot-Marie, French
for Relations with the Arab Peninsula Member of European Parliament - Head of the
(DARP) in the European Parliament. The Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula.
meeting was chaired by HE Madame
Michèle Alliot-Marie.

On the military side, Colonel Turki Al- HE Mr. Pedro Serrano, Deputy Secretary
Malki stressed that the armed forces General oftthe European External Action Service.
involvement was unavoidable, due to the
intransigence of the Iran backed Houthi
militia, who have derailed three different
rounds of peace negotiations in Geneva,
Biel and Kuwait, as well as obstructing a HE Mr. Knut Fleckenstein, German Member
political solution based on UN Security of European Parliament.
Council Resolution 2140, reaffirming that
the goal of the coalition is to pressure the
Houthi militia to the dialogue table.

While addressing the humanitarian aspect HE Rachida Dati, French Member of European
of the coalition’s efforts in Yemen, Parliament - Member of the EPP Group.
C o l o n e l A l - Ma l k i r e f e r r e d t o t h e
continuous and systematic theft of
humanitarian aid supplies and the
disruption of humanitarian convoys by
the Houthis, while the coalition continues Mr. Fernando Gentilini, Managing Director for
to put efforts into supporting the people the Middle East and North Africa European
of Yemen. These efforts included the External Action Service.
recent contribution of $1.5 billion to UN
relief efforts in Yemen, the largest in UN
history, as well as initiatives to enhance
HE Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso,
the capacity of ports throughout Yemen,
Head of EU delegation to the GCC in Riyadh.
including facilitating the entry of cranes
into Al Hodeidah.

He also pointed out that the Iran backed

Houthis have launched more than 150 HE Mr. José Ignacio Salafranca, Spanish
ballistic missiles against densely populated Member of European Parliament.
residential areas in the Kingdom
including Riyadh, calling on the European
Parliament to condemn these missile
attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
which are in violation of UN resolutions. Mr. Patrick Simonnet, Director of the Horn of
Africa and East Africa Department, European
External Action Service.
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Women Driving
The 10th of June 2018 marked a historical
d a y f o r w o m e n . S a u d i A r a b i a ’s
regulations had been adapted and
updated to allow women to drive.
Women driving is a stride forward that
works parallel to Saudi Arabia’s Vision
for 2030 towards empowering and
strengthening families and individuals;
such as families who rely on foreign
drivers, with numbers approximating
eight-hundred thousand drivers.
Saudi Arabia’s Assel Al-Hamad, a
certified interior designer, celebrated the
occasion by driving a Formula-one car
since Saudi Arabian women were allowed
to obtain a driving license on the same
date of France’s Grand Prix. Ms. Al
Ahmad expressed her excitement,

 stating:
“We Saudi women were able today not just to
drive, but to drive an F1 car in the French
Grand Prix.”
Saudi Arabian women’s astonishing
advancement and keen skil lset in
multiple sectors on an international
le vel, cultivated a larger sense of
competition in the national labour
market, which had witnessed a 240%
growth in women obtaining a license to
practice law, which is poised to rise with
these new regulations.
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Vision 2030
The reform strategies and historic
vision developed by the Council of
Economic and Development Affairs,
chaired by the Deputy Crown Prince,
HRH Mohammad Bin Salman
include a number of goals for the
Kingdom’s long -term economic
success. The Vision 2030 plan is the
first step towards achieving Saudi
Arabia’s economic aspirations and
transforming the lives of citizens. Amongst its planned commitments is the
intention to double the number of Saudi heritage sites registered with
UNESCO.
Accordingly, we are pleased to announce that in fulfilment of the vision 2030
plan commitments regarding heritage sites, the Al-Ahsa oasis became the latest
archaeological site to be added to the UNESCO world heritage list on the 29th
of June, 2018. Other Saudi sites that have found a place on the World Heritage
List include the rock-cut monuments of Madain Salih in the Madinah Province;
At-Turaif district in ad-Dir’iyah in Riyadh; the history Red-Sea port city of
Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah and the rock art of the Hai’l region
Breaking Ground on
Qiddiya
The Custodian of the Two Holy
Mo s q u e s , K i n g S a l m a n B i n
AbdulAziz, launched Qiddiya on
April the 28th, 2018. Qiddiya is the
first of its kind entertainment,
spor ts and cultural destination
planned for Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. Spread in an area of 334 square
kilometres, it is the project's first
phase of development is planned to
be completed in 2022. Qiddiya will
be located 40 kilometers west of the
Saudi capital, Riyadh.
Qiddiya will create a self-sustaining
ecosystem, based on five
cornerstones: parks and attractions,
motion and mobility, nature and
environment, sports and wellness,
culture, arts and education". The initiative will be helpful in order to achieve
direct and indirect economic returns and boost the growth of Saudi tourism,
which will lead to a vast job opportunity increase in the field, thanks to many
sport, cultural and historic activities as well as the opening of various hotels,
cafes and restaurants.
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 The Efforts of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief
Center – the Humanitarian Arm of Saudi Arabia
A Royal Directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on 13th May 2015,
established the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to act as a
leading global provider for all types of humanitarian aid and relief projects, in
accordance with noble humanitarian principles and objectives. 

The Kingdom has taken a leading role in the international humanitarian aid and relief
community, providing extensive assistance to people in need around the world. The
Kingdom recognised the importance of its role in alleviating human suffering, and was
committed to helping everyone to live decent and healthy lives, no matter their personal
circumstances. The Kingdom has always been one of the first countries to provide The Supervisor General of
humanitarian assistance when needed, beginning in the early 1950’s, with the KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al
establishment of the Saudi Fund for Development. Within four years of its creation, the Rabeeah
Fund had provided humanitarian assistance to more than 55 countries. The Kingdom's
contributions have included both government and public-sector donations to such Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah was appointed
urgent needs as the Kosovo conflict, tsunami disasters and the Bangladesh Cyclone. In Minister of Health (MOH),, in February
2008, the Kingdom donated USD 500 million to the World Food Programme (WFP), 2009. In May 2011 he was elected as
which was the largest single-country contribution to WFP in the organisation’s history.  President of the Executive Board of the
Arab Health Ministers' Council.
To date, KSrelief has implemented 457 projects in 42 countries around the world. 277 of
In August 2010, he was appointed
these projects have been implemented in Yemen in all sectors, including food security, Chairman of the Board of Directors, King
child- and women-focused projects, support for the Central Bank of Yemen, support for Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research
refugees and IDPs and combating cholera.  Centre (General Organization).

KSrelief applies the highest international humanitarian standards to all of its programs Dr. Al Rabeeah was Chief Executive Officer
and projects, providing impartial assistance to all in need. Dr. Al Rabeeah has of National Guard Health Affairs from 2003
implemented specially-focused initiatives such as the Child Soldiers Rehabilitation to 2009, and was President of King Saud
Program, to help children who were recruited by Houthi militias and used as human Bin Abdulaziz University for Health
Sciences from 2005 to 2009.
shields in the armed conflict. This program has provided rehabilitation services for 241
children, providing them with a wide range of care to help them reintegrate into their
He is the recipient of many national and
families and communities, by providing them with social and psychological support and international awards, including the
cultural and sporting activities. The program also offers awareness programs to families Fellowship through Distinction from the
of the children about the psychological and social risks faced by child soldiers.  Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Royal
College of Physicians of the United
The Kingdom is involved in providing aid and relief to meet Kingdom.
serious humanitarian needs in many parts of the world. For
example, to address the forced displacement of the Dr. Al Rabeeah is the Head of the Surgical
and Multidisciplinary Team for Conjoined
Rohingya minority from Myanmar, KSrelief recently signed
Twins at National Guard Health Affairs,
a project to upgrade Sadar Hospital in Cox's Bazar, in
and has performed thirty-one (31) successful
Bangladesh, at a cost of $2,000,000 to enhance secondary separations.
health care services at the refugee camps there. KSrelief
also signed a joint executive project to provide educational
services for Rohingya refugee students in Malaysia, in
cooperation with Saudi schools in Kuala Lumpur. KSrelief
teams recently conducted field visits to the Rohingya
refugee camps in Bangladesh to inspect humanitarian
projects the center has implemented there. The teams also
assessed the current situation on the ground to determine
additional humanitarian needs priorities which can then be
addressed in cooperation with other international
organisations working to help the refugees.
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre is
in partnership with:

Website: www.ksrelief.org/English

twitter: KSRelief_EN

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Follow Ambassador Alarify: @SaadAlarify 5