The Executive Committee of the Saudi/UAE Coordination Council announced the launch of seven joint committees at its second meeting in Riyadh Monday as part of the two countries' ongoing collaboration to integrate financial markets & investment; industry & energy; environment & housing; tourism & media; human development; politics; and military & security. The meeting was convened under the framework of implementing a joint integration vision between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in terms of the economy, development and the military, as well as to intensify their cooperation on issues of common interest. The committee aims to guarantee cooperation and promote partnership opportunities between the two countries within the council, as well as to measure their performance, guarantee the sustainability of their plans, ensure the success of their joint initiatives, and monitor the work of relevant teams in various sectors. Under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia's Mohammad Bin Mazyad Al Tuwaijri, Minister of Economy and Planning, and UAE's Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, the committee addressed a number of joint strategic initiatives to accelerate cooperation across 26 development fields. Al-Tuwaijri said that the Saudi-UAE Council seeks to "ensure sustainable and all-embracing development for the two countries while sustaining the ongoing strategic integration that strengthens the global and regional status of the two nations and achieves their peoples' ambitions for more prosperity and development.'' For his part, Al-Gergawi said "the UAE-Saudi Coordination council sets a role model for integration thanks to the unlimited support of the two countries' leadership and their tireless efforts to unleash synergy for the best interests of our people". The Executive Committee recommended the launch of seven-integration committee to manage and regulate 26 priority sectors and to evaluate opportunities for cooperation. The integration committees are: - Finance and Investment Committee, co-chaired by Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Hamad bin Abdullah Al Jada'an, Saudi Finance Minister. - Energy & Industry Committee, co-chaired by Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, and Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. - Environment & Housing Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development, and Majid bin Abdullah Al Huqail, Saudi Minister of Housing. - Tourism & Media Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Turki bin Abdullah Al Shabana, Saudi Minister of Information. - Human Development Committee, co-chaired by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, and Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al Shaikh, Saudi Minister of Education. - Political Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. - Military & Security Committee, to be co-chaired by ministers from the two sides. 2. Adding members from the Emirati side It was recommended to issue a resolution appointing Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Industry and Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development, as members of the Emirati side in the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Emirati Co-ordination Council. Achieving food security a goal of Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council The Executive Committee recommended the introduction of the issue of food security to the council's agenda. In this regard, Mariam Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food Security, recommended the development of a unified food security strategy with Saudi Arabia, as well as the launch of joint projects, to ensure future food security for both countries. 3 - Space' a pivotal sector of cooperation within the council The committee also discussed the means of making space a pivotal sector of cooperation, which will serve the council's goals and the interests of the two countries. Strategic initiatives supporting Saudi-Emirati cooperation. The meeting of the committee witnessed a presentation on several strategic initiatives, which aim to strengthen their cooperation and achieve the interests of their peoples. Launching a common market project The two countries will launch an open market project, which will help achieve economic diversity and maintain their market performance. Unified food security strategy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are developing a unified food security strategy, to harness their productivity in the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Joint tourism vision The two countries are also developing a joint vision related to tourism and national heritage, through a partnership between the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and the Ministry of Economy. The Saudi-Emirati Youth Council A presentation was made on the establishment of the "Saudi-Emirati Youth Council," which is key to the decision-making making process that will make a positive contribution to leading causes that concern the youth of both countries. Joint Media Cooperation Committee Discussions were held on the establishment of the "Joint Media Cooperation Committee," with the aim of developing the media sector of both countries and train their media personnel, as well as to strengthen the cooperation between their media institutions and exchange relevant expertise. Studying the ‘Open-Skies Agreement' The General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE and the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia were tasked with studying the agreement and presenting it during the next meeting of the council. The ‘Cyber Security Strategy' The development of a "Cyber Security Strategy" was discussed, which aims to protect the cyberspace of the two countries and create a safe digital technological environment, through exchanging relevant information and expertise. ‘Joint Committee for Promoting Goods and Industries Globally' The council discussed the formation of a joint committee to study and evaluate opportunities for promoting local industries in several countries around the world. Cooperation in energy and industry An assessment was made of the opportunities for promoting cooperation in the areas of energy and industry, especially in renewable energy, mining and manufacturing. Logistical integration A plan to study the cooperation and integration was discussed between the logistical zones and free zones of the two countries, with the aim of providing attractive investment opportunities in the logistical sector. Diplomatic partnership A partnership agreement was signed between the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies and the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, to exchange expertise in the area of diplomacy. The partnership stipulates holding training and study programmes for members of the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries. Visit to Ad-Diriyah, Riyadh At the end of the committee's second meeting, its members visited Ad-Diriyah in Riyadh, which was the first capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The UAE is represented by six ministers in the 15-member Executive Committee. They are: Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy; Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State; and Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council. The Saudi members are: Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources; Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Jad'aan, Minister of Finance, Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Shiekh, Minister of Education; Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah, Minister of Media; Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, Board Chairman of the Arabian Military Industries; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh, Assistant Defence Minister, and Faisal bin Fadhil Al-Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Economy and Planning and Secretary General of the Council's first session. The Saudi/UAE Coordination Council was established through an agreement between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in May 2016, as per the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to achieve their joint vision and highlight their countries' stature in the areas of the economy, social development, politics and military integration, as well as to ensure the welfare of their communities.
