Saudi, Malaysian foreign ministers chair cooperation meeting in Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Dato’ Seri Utama Hajji Mohamad bin Hajji Hasan, his Malaysian counterpart, in Riyadh, Dec. 10 (SPA)
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Updated 10 December 2024
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Saudi, Malaysian foreign ministers chair cooperation meeting in Riyadh

  • Prince Faisal and Hasan signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual visa exemption
  • Prince Faisal and Hasan stressed the brotherly relations that connect Saudi Arabia and Malaysia

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Malaysian counterpart chaired the first meeting of the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, Prince Faisal and Dato’ Seri Utama Hajji Mohamad bin Hajji Hasan, Malaysian minister of foreign affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual exemption from a short-stay visa for holders of diplomatic, private or official passports.

A second memorandum on social development was signed by Hasan and the Saudi deputy minister of human resources, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council discussed aspects of cooperation in political, security, trade, investment, Islamic affairs and socio-cultural sectors.

Prince Faisal and Hasan stressed the brotherly relations that connect Saudi Arabia and Malaysia and pledged to continue their joint coordination and support for their mutual interests in bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Mesaad Al-Sulaim, Saudi ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, and several other senior Saudi and Malaysian aides and officials, attended the meeting.


First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

Updated 23 February 2026
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First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

  • Revived commerce in Arabian Peninsula, according to historian
  • Diriyah highlighted as premier political and commercial center

RIYADH: The economy of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The main features of this economy is outlined in the book “Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State,” by Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen, the SPA reported.

The measures taken in those early days helped to ensure security, unify regions, and organize society. This assisted in stimulating trade, stabilizing markets, and enhancing life in Diriyah and surrounding areas.

 

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The book, published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, outlines how these actions facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its markets attracted merchants and students from across the region.

The local community relied on diverse activities including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.

Economic growth during this founding phase “solidified Diriyah’s position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula,” the SPA reported