Saudi crown prince arrives in Oman on first leg of GCC tour

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Oman on Monday on the first leg of multiple stops in his tour of Gulf states. (SPA)
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Updated 07 December 2021
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Saudi crown prince arrives in Oman on first leg of GCC tour

  • The tour is aimed at boosting and strengthening ties with GCC countries
  • Oman says his visit affirms the fraternal ties and historical relations binding both nations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Oman on Monday on the first leg of multiple stops in his tour of Gulf states.

Prince Mohammed’s visit comes “based on directives from King Salman, his keenness to communicate with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and to strengthen ties,” the Royal Court said in a statement issued by Saudi Press Agency.

Upon his arrival at the Royal Flight airport in Muscat, the crown prince was received by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, Minister of Sports Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Interior Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan were among his accompanying delegation. 
During his meeting with Sultan Haitham, the prince will review several issues of mutual concern, with the aim of achieving progress and prosperity for both countries and both peoples, Oman News Agency reported.

During his tour, the crown prince will also meet with leaders and senior officials of the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, to discuss bilateral relations.

The visit to Oman is an “affirmation of the ties of fraternity and kinship, and the historical relations binding the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” ONA said, adding both countries “are set for a new stage of economic and investment cooperation in all fields.”

Last July, the two countries reaffirmed plans to engage in joint investment in advanced technologies, innovation, renewable energy projects, industry health, real estate, tourism, petrochemical converting industries, supply chains, logistics partnership, information technology and financial technology, the ONA report said.

“The achievements made over the past five months and the active exchange of visits among officials reflect the keen desire of the two countries to work together.” This includes establishing the Saudi-Omani Investment Forum that was held in Muscat in August, where a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed.


Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs

A view shows the interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in explosion at a mosque of the Alawite minority.
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Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs

  • Homs’s press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned an explosion at a mosque of the ​Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday that killed eight people.

The city’s press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area.

Syrian news agency SANA ‌cited health ‌ministry official Najib Al-Naasan as saying ‌18 others ​were ‌wounded and that the figures were not final, indicating they could rise.

Extremist Syrian group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunnah said on its Telegram channels that it carried out the attack. The group previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Damascus church in June that killed 20 people.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of terrorism, extremism, targeting of mosques and places of worship, and terrorizing innocent people. It expresses its solidarity with Syria in this great tragedy, and its support for the Syrian government’s efforts to establish security and stability.”

The statement extended the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Syria. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.