Sheikha Hessa, mother of United Arab Emirates' ruler, dies

Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha, 03 December 2007. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today offered a security pact with Gulf Arab leaders, as he became the first president from the Islamic republic to take part in their summit. (AFP)
Updated 28 January 2018
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Sheikha Hessa, mother of United Arab Emirates' ruler, dies

DUBAI: Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, the mother of the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, has died.
The state-run WAM news agency announced Sheikha Hessa’s death on Sunday, without offering any details or giving her age.
WAM said the UAE would observe three days of mourning beginning Sunday.
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid extended his condolences to President Khalifa and the entire Al Nahyan family.
Sheikh Mohammed also tweeted his condolences.

And in a tweet Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan sent "our most sincere and heartfelt condolences."

And a statement from the court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, “Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is mourning the death of Sheikha Hessa, who passed away today. May Allah rest her soul in peace.”
Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, all sent messages of condolence to the UAE president and his wider family.
Sheikha Hessa was the first wife of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE when the federation of seven sheikhdoms became a country in 1971.
She gave birth in 1948 to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president after Sheikh Zayed’s death in 2004. Sheikh Khalifa is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
(With Associated Press and WAM)


Al-Falih meets Chilean ministers to explore investment opportunities

Updated 06 August 2023
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Al-Falih meets Chilean ministers to explore investment opportunities

RIYADH: Investment opportunities between Saudi Arabia and Chile are set to get a boost as officials from both sides convened for a roundtable meeting in Santiago on Saturday.  

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih engaged in substantive dialogue with various Chilean ministers and government officials to explore and amplify mutual financing possibilities.  

The meeting underscored the necessity of cementing economic ties between the Kingdom and Chile in bolstering the private sectors of both countries and fostering partnerships in areas of shared interest.

Al-Falih met with Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveran, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Nicolas Grau and Minister of Public Works Jessica Lopez Saffie. 

The meetings are part of the Saudi Ministry of Investment and its delegation’s intention to promote bilateral trade by introducing the Kingdom’s public and private sectors to Latin American countries to explore investment opportunities. 

Al-Falih also signed a memorandum of understanding with Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship on Saturday. 

The agreement aims to boost cooperation between both parties to facilitate direct investments. 

Furthermore, Al-Falih discussed several topics with Argentina’s minister around enhancing partnerships and collaborative investments in quality projects.

On Thursday, Al-Falih led a 60-member delegation to an investment forum in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo. 

These initiatives are in line with the aim of the Saudi Ministry of Investment to attract quality investments that will empower sector growth, develop policies and improve the overall access to services through partnerships between the public and private sectors. 

The ministry also endeavors to bolster collaborative initiatives with the private sector to drive social and economic transformation within the Kingdom under the strategic framework of Vision 2030.  

It underscored its role as a facilitator and catalyst by enabling the involvement of both domestic and international private sectors to fuel economic growth. 

Additionally, it emphasized its commitment to assisting these sectors in navigating and surmounting any challenges they may encounter in their interactions with pertinent bodies, both locally and globally.