On October 21, 2025, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), hosted a meeting with H.E. Mr. David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands @DutchMFA @ministerBZ , and his accompanying delegation at the GRC office in Riyadh, during his visit to the Kingdom. The meeting provided an opportunity for an exchange on areas of mutual interest and regional developments, with a particular focus on Gulf–Netherlands relations, including prospects for research and academic collaboration, as well as economic and investment cooperation.
Dr. Ahmed Sager, Vice President of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), and Prof. Saleh Al-Khathlan, Senior Advisor at the GRC, met with HE Ms. Kjersti Tromsdal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Ms. Heidi Elburgi Johansen, Norway’s Special Representative for Yemen, along with their accompanying delegation, at the GRC office in Riyadh on October 16, 2025.
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, received H.E. Mr. Carlo Baldocci, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the GRC’s office in Riyadh. During the meeting, both sides discussed areas of mutual interest and recent regional developments.
The delegation included:
- Dr. Isabelle Werenfels, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) https://swp-berlin.org/en/
- Dr. Guido Steinberg, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) https://swp-berlin.org/en/
- Dr. Marie-Christine Heinze, Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) https://carpo-bonn.org/en
- Dr. Sebastian Sons, Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) https://carpo-bonn.org/en
- Ms. Sophia Meranto, Munich Security Conference (MSC)
- Ms. Rachel Tausendfreund, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) https://dgap.org/en
Representatives from the German Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Riyadh also attended the meeting.
The discussions centered on strengthening cooperation between German research institutions and the Gulf Research Center, building on a long-standing partnership. Both sides also exchanged views on key regional developments and shared perspectives on issues of mutual interest.
Their discussions covered areas of mutual interest, including the GRC’s annual Gulf Research Meeting (GRM) at the University of Cambridge, UK–Gulf relations, and recent regional developments.
The discussions centered on Gulf-German relations and explored areas of mutual interest.
