Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia to give military support to a coalition of mainly Gulf states fighting Yemeni Houthi rebels, a senior government official said.
Pakistan would join a Saudi-led military coalition conducting airstrikes against Houthis, the official said.
The air strikes are targeting the rebels’ southward advance on the port city of Aden, the last bastion of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
“We have already pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in its operation against rebels and will join the coalition,” the Pakistani official said.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaj Asif said a delegation led by him and foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, would go to Saudi Arabia and then decide.
The Pakistani delegation, led by Asif and Aziz, had been due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday but delayed the trip at the request of the Kingdom, the official said.
On Monday night, Aziz and Asif met Pakistan’s military chiefs and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan,” a statement from Sharif’s media office said.
“Pakistan stands committed to playing a meaningful role in arresting the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.”
There are already about 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia but none are combat troops.
On Monday, a Pakistani military spokesman said 292 Pakistani soldiers were meeting Saudi troops for annual, pre-scheduled military exercises.
Saudi officials said the Royal Saudi Land Forces and units of special forces of Pakistan Army launched a joint military exercise codenamed “Al-Samsam 5” in the Shamrakh field, north of Baha.
Brig. Shaeh bin Abdullah Al-Qarni said the exercise, which began on Sunday, is an extension of a series of joint exercises between the Saudi forces and forces from brotherly and friendly countries, including Pakistan.
“The exercise will focus on wars in difficult mountainous terrains and irregular operations,” he said.
The Royal Saudi Air Forces, Land Forces and Border Guard units are participating in the exercise, Brig. Al-Qami said.
Maj. Gen. Faris bin Abdullah Al-Omari, corps commander of Taif region, said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that “Al-Samsam 5” was planned in advance for training and development of Saudi forces.
“The exercise has nothing to do with any current military operations. It is a complement to raise the level of performance and effectiveness of the military forces,” he said.
Brig. Jaweed Iqbal, a very senior Pakistani officer, said the exercise aims to exchange experiences and raise the level of efficiency and performance in the military forces of both the countries.
He said Pakistan maintains close military ties with the Saudi Arabia and “Al-Samsam” exercise has been going on for over a decade.
Pakistan combat troops to join Saudi coalition
Pakistan combat troops to join Saudi coalition
Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 offers inspiration, innovation
- Sports, fitness, wellness in spotlight at Jeddah Superdome
- Gyms and fitness brands offer visitors a wide range of interactive experiences
JEDDAH: Jeddah Superdome welcomed more than 1,000 athletes of all ages on Wednesday for a heart-pounding session which placed sports, fitness and wellness in the spotlight.
The Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 is taking place until Jan. 31 and visitors on the first day were treated to a heady environment filled with high-intensity energy and in which cutting-edge fitness trends met the inspirational spirit of sportsmanship.
More than 300 brands and over 200 exhibitors engaged in in-depth exchanges and interactions according to organizers, while jointly forging an event for the global sports and fitness industry.
Mohammed Al-Aidarous, from the event’s organizing committee, told Arab News the expo aimed to spread the culture of fitness as a daily lifestyle and sought to encourage best international expertise and practices, while empowering and developing local sports talents.
He said: “The sports and fitness industry is a rapidly growing sector globally. Especially in Saudi Arabia, there is an increasing focus on health and fitness among the general public. Consequently there is a growing demand for fitness-related products and services.”
The exhibition, which is in its fourth edition, has brought together suppliers of fitness equipment and sports and leisure products, along with representatives from nutrition and health sectors, wellness clinics, youth sports education, and artificial intelligence solution providers.
Many of the participants are introducing new products to meet changing market trends, leveraging the national fitness policies, deeply exploring market demand, and expanding their presence in the sports industry market, thereby providing users with more professional services.
Gyms and fitness brands at the event are offering visitors a wide range of interactive, educational and commercial opportunities designed to promote healthy lifestyles while showcasing the latest industry innovations.
Danya Aljamal, an event coordinator at GymNation, said: “We are here to show sports enthusiasts who we are and what we can do to make them change their lifestyle with sports. GymNation is about enjoying your time, having fun, challenging yourself and making the best form of your body.”
She added: “We will be offering visitors our famous Hyrox class. It is designed to help enhance your strength and explosive power through a combination of targeted, high-intensity exercises and I hope people enjoy it.”
AI is rapidly reshaping athletic training environments. The exhibition features platforms that analyze an athlete’s movement, track progress, and offer automated corrections.
Saudi entrepreneur Mohammed Kaki, founder and CEO of FitLife, an Al-powered health-tech startup delivering B2B personalized nutrition and wellness plans, said: “We are proud to share the FitLife platform and feel excited to take these insights and relationships to the next level during this three-day event.
“FitLife is an app developed to make people’s fitness journey much easier and more convenient. Our algorithms were developed to produce accurate programs with a full range of workouts and recipes designed to fit people’s daily schedule and preferences.
“Our objective at FitLife is to foster growth and revolutionize the way people perceive health and fitness.”
Kaki indicated that the startup was also aiming to support coaches and specialists in sports and health organizations through AI solutions.
Beyond the exhibition stands and workshops, bodybuilding, calisthenics, taekwondo and volleyball are among the activities taking place at Jeddah Superdome.
