
Saudi Arabia has reiterated its support for the Yemeni government at an international ministerial meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Kingdom has made consistent efforts to promote peace and stability in Yemen, leading several development initiatives and providing assistance to support various sectors.
New York Ministerial Meeting
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) on Monday took part in the International Ministerial Meeting to support the Yemeni government, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The ministerial meeting aimed to back the legitimate Yemeni government.
The Yemeni Prime Minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, and the British Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, co-chaired the meeting. The meeting took place in New York, in conjunction with the UN Security Council meeting, with the participation of representatives from over 35 countries.
The Ministerial Meeting emphasizes the international community’s commitment to mobilizing support for the Yemeni government and its efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen. During the meeting, the Yemeni Prime Minister presented his government’s vision for Yemen’s economic recovery and stability and its plan for the next two years.
SDRPY Support for Yemen
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the meeting underscores the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Yemen across various sectors, according to SDRPY Director of Developmental Programs, Hala Al-Saleh. She highlighted Saudi Arabia’s tireless efforts, through SDRPY, to bolster peace and stability in Yemen. These include launching projects, programs and initiatives that promote sustainable development in Yemen.
#NewYork | To mobilize support for development in #Yemen, Dr. Hala Al-Saleh, SDRPY’s Dir. of Development Programs, addressed the audience at the International Ministerial Meeting.
In her address, Dr. Al-Saleh emphasized the crucial role of @SaudiDRPY projects, programs, and… https://t.co/LYGtpOTeiv
— البرنامج السعودي لتنمية وإعمار اليمن (@SaudiDRPY) January 21, 2025
Furthermore, Al-Saleh outlined the Kingdom’s efforts to back economic recovery in Yemen. This included providing direct assistance to the Central Bank, in addition to grants and deposits, to bolster cash reserves, improve domestic liquidity and enhance economic confidence. She urged the international community to strengthen efforts and collaboration to foster a prosperous and sustainable future for Yemen.
The SDRPY focuses on enhancing food security in Yemen, supporting wages and operating expenses, and helping the government in implementing its economic reform program.
Economic Aid to Yemen
From 2012 to 2023, Saudi Arabia provided $12bn in financial assistance, to support the budget, facilitate salary disbursement, and provide oil derivatives to ease the burden on government spending.
Moreover, the Kingdom made deposits to support foreign reserves and stabilize the Yemeni riyal exchange rate. It also launched an array of projects and strategic initiatives to encourage the Yemeni government’s economic reforms.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia provided a $500mn economic aid package for Yemen, including $300mn deposit in the Central Bank of Yemen, to improve the economic and financial situations; and $200mn to address budget deficit. This package is part of a larger $1.2bn initiative led by SDRPY.
Saudi Arabia’s Support Efforts
Saudi Arabia is the largest supporter for Yemen across the economy, relief, and development sectors. The SDRPY’s participation in the International Ministerial Meeting aligns with the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Yemen. It also aims to encourage international organizations to engage in supporting the developmental initiatives led by the Yemeni government.
In the light of this, the SDRPY collaborates with 40 local, Yemeni, regional and international partners, in a testament to Saudi Arabia’s impactful role in leading development and reconstruction efforts in Yemen and the partners’ trust in the SDRPY’s initiatives.
The SDRPY has so far implemented 263 developmental projects and initiatives across 16 Yemeni governorates, covering 8 critical sectors: education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, capacity building of the Yemeni government, and development programs.