Saudi Arabia does not seek war, won’t hesitate to protect territory: Mouallimi
October 29, 2019, 10:24 am

Saudi Arabia does not seek war, won’t hesitate to protect territory: Mouallimi

Saudi Arabia does not seek war, but will not hesitate to protect its territory from its enemies, the Kingdom’s ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah al-Mouallimi said during a UN Security Council meeting. (Al Arabiya)

Saudi Arabia does not seek war, but will not hesitate to protect its territory from its enemies, the Kingdom’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abdullah al-Mouallimi, said on Monday during a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East in New York.

“We do not seek war. We do not want it nor do we want to ignite it. But at the same time we will not hesitate to protest our territory from any enemies. We will not hesitate to defend our citizens and the capabilities of our country by all legitimate means,” al-Mouallimi said.

In relation to the September 14 attacks on two Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq and Hijrat Khurais, the ambassador called on the international community to take a firmer stance against “destructive policies that support terrorism, fuel sectarianism in the region, support armed militias, and seek to dismantle the states of the region and provoke sedition and threaten the security of supplies.”

Al-Mouallimi said, “It is clear to us that these and other attacks on international energy supplies and missile attacks on my country are a challenge to the Kingdom’s firm and strong policies as well as international action at various levels to counter terrorism that is exported to the region and to interfere in the internal affairs of its countries.”

The ambassador also condemned the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, saying that measures that could further aggravate the crisis in Syria should be avoided. He added that the military operation undermined international efforts to combat ISIS in the area and is a threat to the safety of Syria.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the creation of a United Nations-sponsored constitutional committee by the Syrian government and the opposition, after two years of negotiations, Al-Mouallimi told the Security Council, adding that the Kingdom welcomes this announcement “which is in accordance with the UN Resolution 2254.”

Saudi Arabia considers it a vital step toward reaching a political solution which will put an end to the Syrian people’s plight, guaranteeing a safe return of the Syrian refugees, he said.

Al-Mouallimi also reiterated the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian cause, and added that the Israeli occupation is a violation of international law.

Speaking on the situation in Yemen, the ambassador said that Saudi Arabia has been providing its full support to ensure the safety of the Yemeni people and to help restore stability in the country, including providing more than $14 billion in aid.

Fresh protests, looting erupt in Chile despite new Cabinet At least 18 dead during break up of Iraq’s Karbala protests: Medical sources

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.