Saudi foreign ministry welcomes UN announcement of successful Safer tanker mission

FSO Safer tanker moored off Ras Issa port, in Yemen, June 17, 2020. (AP/File Photo)
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Updated 11 August 2023
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Saudi foreign ministry welcomes UN announcement of successful Safer tanker mission

  • Saudi Arabia was one of the first donor countries to provide financial grants for the operation to remove the oil to go ahead

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ministry of foreign affairs welcomed on Friday the UN announcement that the transfer of more than one million barrels of oil from the dilapidated Yemeni tanker FSO Safer was successful, Al-Ekhbariya reported. 

The operation, which saw 1.14 million barrels of oil taken off the decaying vessel, removed the imminent risk of a spill.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “welcomes the news that the ship-to-ship transfer of oil from the FSO Safer to the Yemen replacement vessel has been safely concluded today, avoiding what could have been a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe,” a statement said.

The foreign ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia’s appreciation of the efforts of Guterres and the UN working team who “worked to harness all efforts to end the problem of the Safer tanker,” the Al-Ekhbariya report added. 

Saudi Arabia was one of the first donor countries to provide financial grants for the operation to remove the oil to go ahead through donations via the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid.


Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

Updated 11 January 2026
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Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

  • It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content

TAIF: A special section highlighting key Saudi literary figures forms part of the Writers and Readers Festival in Taif.

The area explores the lives of distinguished writers, poets, and authors who have shaped the Kingdom’s creative landscape, influencing literature, journalism, theater and intellectual thought.

It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the festival runs until Jan. 15 and features 42 prominent publishing houses from Saudi Arabia and overseas, offering visitors the chance to explore the latest works in literature, philosophy and general knowledge.

Meanwhile, the festival’s interactive murals section engages visitors with openwork art panels, allowing them to contribute to the city’s features and identity.

The murals depict Taif’s natural and historical landmarks, including Al-Hada Mountain, the Taif rose gardens, and traditional Hijazi palaces. Others are inspired by Souq Okaz, a historic literary and commercial center linked to the region’s poetic heritage.

Designed by a visual artist, they blend folk-inspired elements with imaginative expression, creating a collaborative experience that celebrates the city’s beauty and brings art closer to the public.