First flight between Qatar, Saudi Arabia lands in Riyadh

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A man hugs his sister who arrived at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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A man embraces his sister who just arrived to the King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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A man hugs his sister who arrived at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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Qatari national, Khaled, 12, is greeted by his Saudi uncle as he arrives on the first Qatar Airways plane in three years to land at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP)
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A woman flashes her Qatari passport upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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A man hugs his sister who arrived at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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A Saudi man carrying Qatari and Saudi flags waits for the arrival of relatives at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar, on January 11, 2021. (AFP)
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Updated 12 January 2021
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First flight between Qatar, Saudi Arabia lands in Riyadh

RIYADH: The first flight between Qatar and Saudi Arabia in more than three years landed in Riyadh on Monday following a landmark agreement to resume ties.
A Qatar Airways took off from Doha for King Khalid International Airport at around 11 a.m. GMT and touched down around 12 p.m. GMT.

The company said in a tweet that it was resuming services with a daily flight to Riyadh.
At Doha, airport staff filmed aircraft taxiing on the runway, anxious to ensure they got a clip of the relevant plane taking off, according to an AFP correspondent.
Other flights from Saudia are scheduled to take off from Riyadh and Jeddah for Doha on Monday, the company announced earlier.

Saudi Arabia declared a breakthrough in settling the years long rift with Qatar during the GCC Summit in AlUla last week.
The UAE has also restarted commerce and travel with Qatar, and the decision came into effect on Saturday.


8 NGOs join Saudi Arabia’s national vegetation drive

Updated 26 January 2026
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8 NGOs join Saudi Arabia’s national vegetation drive

  • The center continues to promote collaboration across sectors to expand environmental awareness and advance sustainability goals through knowledge exchange

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has signed memoranda of understanding with several nonprofit environmental associations to strengthen partnerships with the nonprofit sector in advancing national goals for environmental sustainability.

The MoUs were signed with eight associations: Al-Nakaa Association, Lavender Society, Darb Hiking Trails and Walking Trips Association, Hail Agriculture Development Association, Yanbu Environmental Association, Rifaq Environment Association (Hail), Aghsan Environmental Association, and Pristine Future Environment Association.

The center said cooperation with the nonprofit sector enhances volunteer and community initiatives and maximizes environmental and social impact across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The agreements are part of a broader cooperation framework covering afforestation and land rehabilitation projects, nature-based tourism support, expertise exchange, capacity building through training, and community environmental awareness.

The center continues to promote collaboration across sectors to expand environmental awareness and advance sustainability goals through knowledge exchange, coordinated community efforts, joint outreach programs, and initiatives supporting national environmental objectives.