On December 2, 2025, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), welcomed Mr. Park Byoung Seop, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the GRC office in Riyadh.
The meeting focused on areas of mutual interest and provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation between the GRC and the Korean Embassy. Discussions touched on topics of shared concern, including regional developments, research collaboration, and prospects for future engagement.
The meeting highlighted the continued commitment of both institutions to foster dialogue and enhance bilateral cooperation between the Gulf region and the Republic of Korea.
On November 20, 2025, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), received Mr. Alexandre Dormeier Freire, Director of the Executive Programmes in Development Policies and Practices, and Ms. Sofia Mueller, Programme Manager for Development Policies & Practices (DPP) and Conflict and Fragility Management (CFM), from the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) at the GRC office in Riyadh.
The meeting explored various areas of mutual interest, with discussions focusing on ways to strengthen cooperation between the GRC and IHEID. Both sides reviewed opportunities for collaboration in:
Joint research initiatives
Specialized training and capacity-building programs
Development of shared projects addressing regional and global policy challenges
The meeting underscored the importance of fostering academic partnerships and enhancing dialogue between research institutions to promote informed policy analysis and advance mutual objectives in areas related to development, governance, and regional stability.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), received HE Ambassador François Cornet d’Elzius, Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium, at the GRC office. He was accompanied by HE Pascal H. Grégoire, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Riyadh.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged perspectives on recent regional developments and explored areas of mutual interest relevant to Gulf–Belgian cooperation. Discussions touched on political, economic, and strategic issues, with a focus on fostering deeper understanding and enhancing collaboration between the GRC and Belgian institutions.
The meeting underscored the value of continued dialogue and partnership in addressing shared challenges and advancing constructive engagement between the Gulf region and Belgium.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), received H.E. Carlo Baldocci, Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the GRC’s office in Riyadh on November 10, 2025.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on current regional developments and discussed areas of mutual interest between the Gulf region and Italy. The discussion also touched on opportunities to strengthen cooperation in fields such as policy research, diplomacy, and economic relations.
Dr. Sager highlighted the importance of fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the Gulf Research Center and international partners, emphasizing the shared commitment to promoting stability, understanding, and constructive engagement between the Gulf and Europe.
On November 9, 2025, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), received H.E. Charis Moritsis, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the GRC office in Riyadh.
The discussion focused on bilateral relations and shared interests between the Gulf region and Cyprus, with particular attention to economic and investment cooperation, as well as potential areas for joint research and policy dialogue.
Both sides also exchanged views on recent regional developments and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and dialogue between research institutions to support greater understanding and partnership between the Gulf states and Cyprus.
On November 2, 2025, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), welcomed H.E. Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, Norway’s Minister of International Development, along with his accompanying delegation, at the GRC headquarters in Riyadh.
The meeting served as a platform for exchanging insights and exploring opportunities for closer cooperation between the Gulf region and Norway. Discussions highlighted key topics including regional developments, potential areas of research and academic collaboration, as well as economic partnerships that reflect the mutual interests of both parties.
Dr. Sager and Minister Aukrust emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue and building long-term partnerships, particularly in the fields of policy research, education, and sustainable development. Both sides expressed their commitment to furthering ties and supporting joint initiatives that foster greater understanding and cooperation between Norway and the Gulf states.
