JEDDAH: A hot air balloon dedicated to Saudi King Salman took to the sky over Poland as part of an international festival.
The balloon featuring an image of the Saudi ruler and a message of unity was launched by the UAE at the 11th International Balloon Festival in the Polish city of Naunchev.
European teams and balloons from the US, Australia and Japan also took part in the 12-day festival, which ended on Wednesday.
The King Salman balloon was flown under the leadership of Capt. Abdul Aziz Nasser Al-Mansouri, who said he was proud to promote the ruler’s message of unification.
Shehab Nasser Al-Mansouri, the balloon’s technical director, said the balloon had taken part national and cultural celebrations around the world, including Poland, Russia and Italy and Jordan.
Al-Mansouri praised the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for young talents in the Kingdom and Gulf.
Adam Bronski, head of the festival’s organizing committee, welcomed the first European flight of King Salman’s balloon, which reflected the Kingdom’s pioneering role in building bridges.
He also praised the Kingdom’s efforts in humanitarian and medical support for Poland.
King Salman’s hot air balloon soars with a message of unity
King Salman’s hot air balloon soars with a message of unity
Saudi Arabia expresses regret over damage to Qatar’s embassy building in Ukraine
- Qatar said that its embassy in the Ukrainian capital was damaged during Russian strikes the night before but that its staff were unharmed
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has expressed regret over damages sustained by the building of Qatar’s embassy in the Ukrainian capital during a Russian attack.
Qatar said that its embassy in the Ukrainian capital was damaged during Russian strikes the night before but that its staff were unharmed.
The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement shared on X that the kingdom “expresses its profound regret over the damage sustained by the embassy building of the fraternal State of Qatar due to shelling in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.”
Saudi Arabia also “renews its supporting position for diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian crisis by peaceful means,” it added.
The ministry also affirmed the need to provide protection for members of diplomatic missions, and their premises, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن بالغ أسف المملكة العربية السعودية لما تعرض له مبنى سفارة دولة قطر الشقيقة من أضرار نتيجة القصف في العاصمة الأوكرانية كييف. pic.twitter.com/xw6Ct3bPbb
— وزارة الخارجية (@KSAMOFA) January 9, 2026
