Saudi Arabia welcomes recognition of Palestine by four Western states

Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the decision by the UK, Australia, Canada and Portugal to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it an important step toward advancing the peace process. (AFP/File Photo)
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Updated 22 September 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes recognition of Palestine by four Western states

  • The UK and Canada became the first G7 countries to take the step

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the decision by the UK, Australia, Canada and Portugal to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it an important step toward advancing the peace process.

The Kingdom said the move demonstrated the “serious commitment of friendly countries” to supporting efforts for a two-state solution in line with international legitimacy resolutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It added that it hopes more countries will follow suit and take further positive measures that would help the Palestinian people achieve their aspirations to live in peace and enable the Palestinian Authority to carry out its responsibilities, SPA added.

Saudi Arabia reiterated its position in support of a just and comprehensive settlement that ensures security, stability and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal on Sunday recognized a Palestinian state in a seismic shift in decades of Western foreign policy.

The UK and Canada became the first G7 countries to take the step, with France and other nations expected to follow at the annual UN General Assembly which opens Monday in New York.

Meanwhile, Qatar on Monday also welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, saying the move supported efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the region. 

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First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

Updated 52 min 30 sec ago
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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