UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon ‘welcome anytime’: Saudi media minister

Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary (L) and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (R). (Supplied)
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Updated 29 January 2026
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UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon ‘welcome anytime’: Saudi media minister

  • Sheikh Tahnoon “comes to the Kingdom whenever he wants without permission; it is his home and its leadership is his family,” the Kingdom’s media minister wrote on X

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman Al-Dossary refuted on Wednesday allegations circulating on social media that the Kingdom has denied entry to the UAE’s National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed.
“What is being circulated about the Kingdom refusing to receive His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed is incorrect. His Highness comes to the Kingdom whenever he wants without permission; it is his home and its leadership is his family,” the minister wrote on X.
Sheikh Tahnoon is the Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and brother of the UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Tuesday that while there had been a “difference of view” between the two countries over Yemen, their relationship was “critically important” for regional stability.
“The Kingdom is always keen on having a strong, positive relationship with the UAE as an important partner within the GCC,” he said.
He said the UAE’s withdrawal from Yemen served as a “building block” for the relationship with the Emirates to continue strong.
Last month, Yemen’s internationally recognized government asked the UAE to withdraw its forces from the country after the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) that it supported seized large areas in the south and east.
The Saudi-led military Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said on December 30 that it had conducted a “limited” airstrike against shipments of smuggled weapons destined to the STC.
The UAE defense ministry said it completed a full withdrawal from Yemen on January 2.


ZATCA thwarts massive captagon smuggling attempt at Al-Haditha border

Updated 30 January 2026
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ZATCA thwarts massive captagon smuggling attempt at Al-Haditha border

  • Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, leading to the arrest of two individuals

RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at the Al-Haditha border crossing intercepted an attempt to smuggle 269,411 captagon pills hidden in a commercial food consignment during a routine inspection.

The authority thwarted the attempt to smuggle the contraband using advanced security technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, leading to the arrest of two individuals intended to receive the shipment in the Kingdom.

ZATCA spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to tightening border security as a core strategic pillar to protect society from the prohibited goods.

The authority encourages the public to support national security by reporting smuggling activities via the confidential number 1910 or email at [email protected].

Through these channels, the authority receives information related to smuggling crimes and violations of the Unified Customs Law with complete confidentiality, and a financial reward is granted to those providing the tip-off if the information is accurate.

The Kingdom vs Captagon
Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world
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