Latest news with #KhalidbinBandar
Saudi Gazette
24-04-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi ambassador to UK voted MENA diplomat of 2025
Saudi Gazette report LONDON — Diplomat Magazine awarded the "Diplomat of the Year 2025" award for the Middle East and North Africa region to Prince Khalid bin Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the UK and Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The award was presented at an annual ceremony held at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London, attended by ambassadors and high commissioners from more than 90 countries. The award is based on votes from diplomats representing more than 180 diplomatic missions based in the United Kingdom, as part of an annual nomination and voting process organized by Diplomat Magazine. The award is given to ambassadors and diplomats who have made outstanding contributions to diplomatic work within the United Kingdom. Diplomat Magazine is one of the UK's leading diplomatic magazines, highlighting the activities of diplomatic missions and international issues. It also organizes annual events aimed at enhancing communication between diplomats and honoring distinguished individuals in this field. In 2019, Prince Khalid bin Bandar presented his credentials as his country's ambassador to Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, expressing his pride in the close historical ties between Saudi Arabia and Britain and emphasizing his aspiration to develop and strengthen these relations between the two friendly countries at all levels. Prior to that, Prince Khalid served as ambassador to Berlin in 2017.
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi ambassador to UK voted MENA diplomat of the year
LONDON: Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, has been named 'Diplomat of the Year' for the Middle East and North Africa at a ceremony in London. Prince Khalid was voted for by fellow diplomats representing more than 180 missions accredited to the UK, Saudi Press Agency reported. The award, run by London-based 'Diplomat Magazine,' recognizes ambassadors and diplomats who have made outstanding contributions to diplomatic work in the UK. Prince Khalid was presented with the award during the magazine's annual ceremony at London Hilton on Park Lane on Tuesday. The event was attended by ambassadors and high commissioners from more than 90 countries. HRH Prince Khalid Al Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the UK, has received the prestigious Diplomat of the Year Award from Middle East & North Africa Award at #DiplomatAwards2025, voted by UK-based diplomats from 180 country, for his outstanding diplomatic contributions. — Saudi Embassy UK (@SaudiEmbassyUK) April 23, 2025
Arab News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Ambassador to UK rules out one-state solution for Palestine
LONDON: Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, has reaffirmed Riyadh's stance that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue. Speaking on Friday at a panel discussion with Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas, hosted by MENA-based think tank SRMG Think, the ambassador made it clear that the Kingdom rejects any notion of a one-state outcome. 'Discussions are just happening, and at the Arab Summit there will be agreement,' he said. '(It is) a little bit early for me to talk about it, but I can tell you that, definitely, we don't envisage seeing nothing. Straight off the bat, there is no one state solution. As far as we're concerned, we don't see the displacement of the people of Gaza as a viable method in order to achieve prosperity.' His remarks came as leaders from the GCC, Jordan and Egypt convened in Riyadh ahead of the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo, set for March 4. The meetings are focused on coordinated efforts in support of Palestine, developments in Gaza, and broader regional issues. The Arab League meeting is largely in response to US President Donald Trump's proposal for Washington to 'take over' Gaza, displace its residents, and turn the enclave into the 'Riviera of the Middle East' — a plan that Arab leaders have widely condemned. They are expected to present a formal response in Cairo. 'I do see a ray of hope in finding a solution, because, by and large, almost every country in the world has come to the same place of what is required for peace,' Prince Khalid said. However, he pointed to a key obstacle: Israel's lack of engagement. 'For the first time, very openly, our biggest issue is dealing with Israel,' the ambassador said, adding that the government in Tel Aviv 'seems to have no space for movement on a solution, and the solutions that are presented by the most outspoken members of this Israeli government don't seem to be solutions.' He continued: 'Give (it) a couple of days and more will come out. I can guarantee you that by and large, we agree on two-state solution, a government of Palestine, and then we can talk about everything else, but everything else is not going to happen without that.' Since the latest conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, Arab states have united in condemning the devastation in Gaza and calling for urgent peace talks. However, Prince Khalid said he has observed a notable shift in approach over the past month. 'The last 30 days of the (US) administration feel like it's been 10 years. So much has happened in a short amount of time,' the ambassador said, adding that since Trump's return to office, engagement with the region and beyond 'has been unbelievable.' 'Things have changed. People have begun taking action and engaging and getting themselves into gear rather than sitting back and waiting,' Prince Khalid said. '(Friday's meeting in Riyadh) and the summit in Cairo are very good examples. We have decided to take responsibility for what is happening in our part of the world, ourselves, (and) we're going to find our solution, and we will take that to the world. And my assumption is hopefully the world will come with us. 'It has brought the Arab countries certainly together in a way that I didn't foresee at this time.' The discussion was part of the Debating MENA series hosted at the Frontline Club in London, which brings regional leaders to discuss key developments in the Middle East. Previous events featured Robert Ford, a former US ambassador to Syria, and Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, the prime minister of Iraq. During the conversation, Prince Khalid also addressed Saudi Arabia's evolving relationships with regional powers, including Syria, Iran and Türkiye. He noted that while ties with Damascus and its new government are improving, Riyadh remains 'cautious.' 'We have seen our engagement, or lack thereof, in the region historically, where we missed opportunities and allowed someone else to go back. We did not want to make that same mistake again with Syria,' Prince Khalid said. 'The engagement we have from the new government has been incredibly positive. Are we cautious? Of course, we're going to be cautious. There are lots of reasons to be cautious.' Trust remains a key challenge between the two countries, he added, particularly as Syria emerges from what he described as a 'traumatic' period. The country's transitional government, led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda member and militant group commander, ousted Bashar Assad on Dec. 8, ending more than five decades of rule by the Assad family. The last 13 years were marked by a brutal civil war that caused one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century. 'We need to build trust on both sides, but I think with Syria, the government has gone out of its way to try and engage with us, and we're not going to say no to that, and we will try and help where we can and bring people along with us,' Prince Khalid said. He stressed that while Syria remains an independent nation, 'it needs a lot of help' and will require significant international cooperation to rebuild. Prince Khalid also described Syria's diplomatic outreach as a bridge between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, calling it a 'really positive' development. Despite normalizing ties in 2021 and strengthening economic relations in recent years, Riyadh and Ankara have maintained a politically complex relationship, partly due to historical tensions. However, the rebuilding of post-Assad Syria presents an opportunity for both nations to further deepen their ties. He drew a parallel with Saudi Arabia's rapprochement with Iran in March 2023, when China brokered talks to restore diplomatic relations after years of hostility. Prince Khalid noted that this renewed space for dialogue played a crucial role in preventing the October 7 conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. 'It took huge efforts to stop it from metastasizing into something much more dangerous,' he said. 'And part of the reason we were able to do that is because we were engaging with Iran in a way we hadn't been for quite some time.' Prince Khalid also addressed the recent US-Russia talks, which were hosted in Riyadh this week. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's role was to provide a neutral platform for dialogue. 'We have perfectly good relations with Russia, great relations with the US. Our policy is always to talk to everyone regardless. That's not always possible, but we constantly try. And I think this is a result of that, where both countries felt comfortable talking things down,' he said. On a question as to why Kyiv was not represented at the talks, Prince Khalid said: 'This is the beginning of a process. It is one element in what will require a lot of meetings and a lot of agreements, including, despite the way it's been promoted, Ukraine. You can't have peace between two people without one person at the table.'
Reuters
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
No booze in 2034 World Cup, LGBTQ fans welcome, Saudi ambassador says
Feb 13 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will uphold its current ban on alcohol during the 2034 World Cup, said Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, the host country's ambassador to the United Kingdom. Global soccer governing body FIFA officially announced Saudi as hosts of the 2034 World Cup in December. The kingdom banned alcohol, which is prohibited for observant Muslims, in 1952. It was not sold at stadiums in neighbouring Qatar, where drinking in public is illegal, during the 2022 tournament but beer was available at designated fan zones and in some hotels. "Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol - it's not 100 per cent necessary and if you want to drink after you leave, you're welcome to, but at the moment we don't have alcohol," Khalid bin Bandar told British radio station LBC on Wednesday. "Rather like our weather, it's a dry country. Everyone has their own culture. We're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don't want to change our culture for someone else." Last year, Saudi announced the opening of an alcohol shop in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh to combat the black market and illegal imports. The store is only for non-Muslim diplomats, who must present diplomatic identification before they buy. SPORTSWASHING The kingdom has invested heavily in sport over the last few years through its Public Investment Fund, which has acquired Premier League club Newcastle United and founded the LIV Golf tour, challenging the US-based PGA Tour's dominance. Critics, including women's rights groups and members of the LGBTQ community, allege it is using the PIF to sportswash its human rights record. Asked if gay soccer fans would be able to safely attend the tournament, the ambassador replied: "We will welcome everyone in Saudi. It is not a Saudi event, it is a world event. And to a large extent, we will welcome everyone who wants to come." In September, Hammad Albalawi, the head of Saudi Arabia's World Cup bid unit, also assured that LGBTQ fans would be welcome and their privacy respected, pointing to the millions of fans who had travelled to Saudi for sporting events in recent years. There are no public advocacy groups for LGBTQ people in Saudi and while state law is uncodified, it is understood by Amnesty, opens new tab that people can be sentenced to death if it is proven they engaged in same-sex sexual acts. MIGRANT WORKERS Saudi Arabia's bid book pledged 15 stadiums, new or refurbished, by 2032, which are understood to be completed with the help of migrant labour. Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) said in November that hosting the tournament in the Gulf country would lead to "severe and widespread" human rights violations. "Fans will face discrimination... migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of labour rights and sport, said. Saudi Arabia has banned labour unions and enforces the "kafala" system of foreign labourer sponsorship. The country has repeatedly denied accusations of human rights abuses and said it protects its national security through its laws.
