Egyptian minister hails ‘deep-rooted historical ties’ with Saudi Arabia as crown prince heads to Cairo to kick off regional tour
Egyptian minister hails ‘deep-rooted historical ties’ with Saudi Arabia as crown prince heads to Cairo to kick off regional tour/node/2107166/saudi-arabia
Egyptian minister hails ‘deep-rooted historical ties’ with Saudi Arabia as crown prince heads to Cairo to kick off regional tour
Egyptian minister of planning and economic development, Dr Hala Helmy El-Said. (Wikimedia Commons)
Egyptian minister hails ‘deep-rooted historical ties’ with Saudi Arabia as crown prince heads to Cairo to kick off regional tour
Egyptian minister of planning and economic development, Dr Hala Helmy El-Said speaks to Arab News ahead of the crown prince visit
Updated 20 June 2022
NOOR NUGALI
CAIRO: “The Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have long enjoyed historical strong relations, through a strategic bilateral partnership and the continuous coordination on issues of common interest,” Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala Helmy El-Said, told Arab News ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Egypt.
The deep-rooted ties binding the two countries and their peoples have seen the pair work together to boost economic relations and provide a solid base for investment in infrastructure.
“The interconnectedness between both nations has activated an institutional cooperation in trade, investment, electricity, oil and petrochemicals, telecommunications and finance, and has witnessed a golden era of unprecedented developments affirming strengthened solidarity and partnership,” said El-Said.
“Renowned for their deep-rooted and extended historic relations, Egypt and Saudi Arabia share a mutual vision of sustainable development, stability, and inclusive growth with an ambition to drive prosperity for the region.”
The historic relations of the two countries date back to when King Abdulaziz, the unifier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, created the foreign policy structure of the country, beginning with Egypt as his first visit.
“Furthermore, both nations enjoy a strong sense of solidarity with decades of unified relations in trade and investment. An example of these perpetual ties can be seen in the form of the volume of trade and investment.”
The minister added, “Egypt and Saudi Arabia are pivotal countries in the Middle East; together they constitute about 34 percent of the region's population and constitute about 39 percent of the Arab region’s GDP, which makes them an important economic hub in the region.”
“The consistent harmonious ties between both countries have made the historic and strengthened relations a model to be followed in Arab-Arab cooperation due to its strength and its establishment on powerful foundations of sincere understanding, continuous consultation, mutual respect, and common interests.”
The economic and strategic bilateral ties between both countries affirm the commitment of their political leadership led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Saudi leadership, the minister said, to “further develop and consolidate these relations and push them to broad horizons that meet the aspirations of the two nations.
The crown prince is on the first leg of a tour of the region and will visit Jordan and Turkey in the next few days.
Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman inaugurates 3rd World Defense Show in Riyadh
Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the five-day event will run until February 12
Prince Khalid launched several key initiatives, including the launch of several defense firms and signing of cooperation deals
The show is also serving as a launchpad for cutting-edge security technologies across various government sectors
Updated 09 February 2026
Arab News
RIYADH: Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman inaugurated the third edition of the World Defense Show (WDS) on Sunday on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the five-day event will run until February 12, showcasing the Kingdom’s rapid strides toward strategic independence and technological leadership in the defense sector.
The 2026 edition features a purpose-built venue with a 2,700-meter runway for live air and land demonstrations, underscoring the show’s status as a premier global defense event.
GAMI Governor Ahmad Al-Ohali emphasized that the show reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to localizing over 50 percent of military spending in line with Vision 2030, fostering an integrated ecosystem where government bodies and international partners collaborate on innovation.
The event brings together official delegations, government entities, and leading international companies specializing in the defense and security sectors. (SPA)
Strategic agreements and major launches
The opening day witnessed significant activity at the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) Group pavilion, where Prince Khalid launched several key initiatives:
• New entities: The inauguration of SAMI Land Company, SAMI Autonomous Company, and the SAMI Land Industrial Complex.
• Supply chain: The unveiling of the SAMI Local Content Program (RUKN) and the HEET Program.
• International cooperation: A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi General Authority for Defense Development and the Korean Agency for Defense Development to cooperate on advanced military research.
• Defense deals: The Minister signed cooperation agreements with Slovakia, Malaysia, and Somalia.
Defense Minister Prince Khalid signed cooperation agreements with Slovakia, Malaysia, and Somalia. (SPA)
Technological debuts & innovations
The show is also serving as a launchpad for cutting-edge security technologies across various government sectors:
AI-Powered Lucid Gravity: Public Security debuted its advanced Lucid Gravity electric security vehicle at the Ministry of Interior's pavilion. The vehicle integrates state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and specialized security equipment designed to accelerate emergency response times and support field operations.
Public Security’s advanced Lucid Gravity electric security vehicle is displayed at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion. (SPA)
This high-tech addition highlights Public Security’s shift toward smart, sustainable security solutions. By leveraging predictive intelligence and advanced command-and-control systems, the Lucid Gravity exemplifies the ministry’s commitment to protecting the Kingdom through integrated technological innovation and sustainable mobility.
Smart Helmet: Also at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion, the General Directorate of Civil Defense unveiled its smart helmet. Designed to revolutionize public safety and emergency response, the helmet features day-and-night cameras and specialized sensors to detect hazardous materials in hard-to-reach locations.
The device serves as a mobile command node, delivering live video feeds directly to command-and-control centers. By enabling real-time data analysis and faster decision-making, the smart helmet significantly reduces incident response times and enhances personnel safety in high-risk environments.
The smart helmet features day-and-night cameras and specialized sensors to detect hazardous materials in hard-to-reach locations. (SPA)
Border Security: The General Directorate of Border Guard (GDBG) showcased an integrated security system featuring radar and thermal cameras capable of detecting drones and classifying moving targets to protect critical infrastructure.
It also functions as an early warning system for critical facilities and border areas and is fully integrated with command and control systems.
Border Guard's ntegrated security system features radar and thermal cameras capable of detecting drones and classifying moving targets to protect critical infrastructure. (SPA)
Counter-Terrorism: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) presented a comprehensive framework integrating intellectual, media, and military domains to combat extremism and terror financing.
Visitors are briefed on specialized programs designed to raise the readiness of national personnel and foster sustainable institutional cooperation among member states to combat extremism. On the event’s opening day, the pavilion hosted high-level delegations, including ministers, military leaders, and ambassadors who reviewed the coalition's pivotal role in coordinating international security efforts and commended its initiatives that support regional and global stability.
A view of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition pavilion. (SPA)
Meteorology: The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) displayed advanced weather systems essential for ensuring the safety of the event's air shows and military operations.
At its dedicated pavilion, the NCM is showcasing its latest advanced meteorological technologies and systems. These solutions serve both the military and civilian sectors, providing accurate data to support beneficiary entities' operational processes and highlighting the center's pivotal role in national security and safety.
NCM's latest meteorological technologies and systems serve both the military and civilian sectors
World Defense Show CEO Andrew Pearcey noted that participation is expected to surpass previous records, reflecting the event's growing importance on the international stage. The show continues through February 12.
