RIYADH: Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have witnessed a rapid qualitative and quantitative improvement and are poised for major intensification in near future because the two countries today stand as “main pillars for regional stability,” said Turkish Ambassador Yunus Demirer.
Speaking on the occasion of Turkish national day, the Turkish envoy said that “the depth and diversity of our relations, our joint commitment to stability and well-being of the region, and intertwined interests lead our countries to propel the existing relationship to higher levels. We are two brotherly countries bound by strong historical, social and cultural ties.”
Demirer said that Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and home to the two holy mosques, has always had “a revered place in Turkish hearts and minds.” The two countries are close allies and strong economic partners. “Further deepening of our relations in all fields would not only be beneficial to our people, but also for the entire region,” reaffirmed the envoy.
He said that the centerpiece of our political dialogue has always been the frequency of official visits. For instance, there were more than 25 high-level official visits between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the last two years.
Referring to the growing relations between the Kingdom and Turkey, the diplomat said that relations between countries should not only be confined to politicians or diplomats but these ties should also be strengthened between cultural leaders, academics and most importantly between individuals. In this context, he said that the number of Saudi nationals visiting Turkey has increased rapidly in the last few years and reached more than 500,000 in 2016.
“This number increased by 37 percent during the first seven months of 2017 compared with the same period of 2016,” said the envoy. He said that business, as well as the tourism traffic, between the Kingdom and Turkey have been growing steadily as Turkey offers a wide range of halal tourism products and services.
Asked about the activities of the special councils set up by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, he said that “our communication and exchanges have found a new special channel since 2016 with the establishment of Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council.
“The Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council is the natural manifestation of the strategic partnership our countries have enjoyed all these years,” he added.
“And now with proper political inertia and structural mechanisms in the form of specialized working groups, the existing potential is said to have finally found direction,” said the ambassador, while referring to the first round of annual talks that took place on Feb. 8, 2017, in Ankara and were devoted to evaluating strategies and means to operate this new council.
He said the council would guide our cooperation in various fields such as culture, technology, sports, labor relations and housing development. “We are sure to see a gradual enhancement in the scope and intensity of our endeavors in a short span of time within the framework of the Saudi-Turkish Cooperation Council,” he noted.
Responding to a query about the Turkish position on Syria, Yemen and the Middle East peace process, the envoy said: “Saudi Arabia and Turkey have common views and approaches toward a range of regional issue like the Palestinians’ plight, the Syrian conflict, the situation in Iraq and combatting terrorism.”
“Having said that, it should not come as a surprise that the structural initiatives between the two countries should reflect the very sentiments that join our two countries in solidarity,” he added.
On the economic front, he said that the two countries have forged closer ties. “A careful look at the composition of our trade reveals an improvement in the complementarity index, which means that our imports and exports have evolved in a way to better suit one another’s needs,” said the diplomat. A total of 90 percent of Turkey’s imports from Saudi Arabia are composed of oil and petrochemicals, he noted.
On the other hand, Turkey’s main exports to Saudi Arabia are industrial products. Turkey also follows with great interest and appreciation the unfolding of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, he said. “My government is also pursuing a similar initiative called the Vision 2023, which seeks to boost developmental efforts until the centennial of our republic,” the envoy added. “All along this thorny path of economic and social transformation, Saudi Arabia can be sure to find a reliable partner and a friend in Turkey,” he said.
‘Ankara, Riyadh poised for greater cooperation’
‘Ankara, Riyadh poised for greater cooperation’
Saudi House kicks off Davos with push on Vision 2030, AI platform and ‘humanizing’ tourism
- Saudi ministers dominate pre-summit spotlight at Saudi pavilion, touting Vision 2030’s next phase and human capital as key to global edge
- Ministry of Economy and Planning announced the SUSTAIN Platform which aims to accelerate AI-enabled, cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development
DAVOS: For regulars at the World Economic Forum, Monday in Davos is usually a chance to ease into the week, a time to reconnect, plan meetings and prepare for the intense schedule ahead.
This year, Saudi Arabia moved quickly to fill that lull, taking center stage with a packed program of panels ahead of Tuesday’s official opening.
At the Saudi House — the Kingdom’s official pavilion on the Promenade, returning after its debut as a standalone venue at the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting — Saudi ministers and global executives set out how the Kingdom sees the next phase of its transformation.
Established by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the venue is pitched as a platform for international thought leaders to tackle the challenges, opportunities and solutions shaping the global economy.
Opening a session on the Kingdom’s role at this year’s Forum and the next phase of Vision 2030 — now in its 10th year and roughly two-thirds complete — Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, said human capital “is the actual driver if you want a competitive, modern economy.”
She described one of the biggest achievements of the past decade as the emergence of a highly qualified cohort of young Saudis who could work anywhere in the world but “choose to come home, choose to build at home and choose to deliver at home,” calling this “the biggest symbol of the success of Vision 2030.”
Who can give you optimum access to opportunities while addressing risks? I contend that Saudi Arabia has been able to provide that formula.
Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment
On the same panel, Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan said this success is rooted in a “behavioral change” that has strengthened the Kingdom’s credibility with both international partners and its own citizens.
“Credibility comes from being very pragmatic, making sure that you maintain your fiscal policy discipline, but at the same time refocus your resources where it matters,” he said, warning that “markets will call your bluff if you’re not serious.”
The Saudi House, a cross-ministerial initiative led by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, is intended to underscore the Kingdom’s “commitment to global cooperation” by offering “a platform where visionary ideas are shared and shaped,” while showcasing opportunities and lessons from its “unprecedented national transformation.”
Echoing earlier comments to Arab News, Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Alibrahim said the Kingdom’s role as an anchor of stability has helped unlock its potential, stressing that while the objective is to decouple from reliance on a single commodity, “2030 is not the finishing line.”
Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment, said Saudi Arabia has been able to enable access to opportunities while addressing major risks, arguing that few countries can match the Kingdom’s overall mix.
“No country has all of those to 100 percent,” he said. “But who can give you the mix that gives you optimum access to opportunities while addressing all of those risks?
“I contend that Saudi Arabia has been able to provide that formula and the proof is in the pudding,” noting that local investment has doubled in recent years to reach levels comparable with India and China.
While societal transformation dominated the morning discussions, the afternoon turned to technology, tourism, sport and culture, four strategic sectors expected to spearhead Vision 2030’s next phase.
The Ministry of Economy and Planning used the day to announce the SUSTAIN Platform, due to launch in 2026, which aims to accelerate AI-enabled, cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development.
The ministry said SUSTAIN will translate the Kingdom’s public and private-sector coordination mandate into a practical national tool to help government entities, businesses, investors, academia and civil society identify credible partners, form trusted coalitions and move initiatives “from planning to implementation more efficiently,” addressing a global challenge where fragmented partnerships often slow delivery and blunt impact.
“We are in a moment in time where technology may well impact the face of humanity,” said Dina Powell McCormick, recently appointed president and vice chairman of Meta, welcoming the Kingdom’s “desire” to partner with technology companies and its embrace of innovation.
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Alkhateeb, discussing how technology is being deployed in his sector, underlined that “in travel and tourism, people are very important. We learn about other people’s culture through interacting with people. We digitalize the unnecessary and humanize the necessary.”
He added that while technological transformation is a priority, “we don’t want to replace this big workforce with technology. I think we need to protect them in Saudi Arabia, where we’re being a model. I’m an advocate of keeping the people.”
Throughout the week, Saudi House will host more than 20 sessions, including over 10 accredited by the WEF, across six themes: Bold Vision, Insights for Impact, People and Human Capability, Quality of Life, Investment and Collaboration, and Welcoming the World.
The pavilion will also launch “NextOn,” a new series of influential and educational talks featuring leading global voices.
