JEDDAH, 4 December 2006 — Saudi Arabia and its southern GCC neighbor, the Sultanate of Oman, have agreed to establish a border point in order to facilitate transportation and enhance trade relations between the two countries, it was announced yesterday. The new border point will be in operation within two years.
A joint communiqué issued yesterday after official talks between Interior Minister Prince Naif and his Omani counterpart Saud Al-Bousaeedi said that work on the border point had already started. It will be called Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter) entry point on the Saudi side and Ramlat Khaliya entry point on the Omani side, the communiqué added.
“All measures have been taken by relevant agencies in both countries to establish the border point facilities, pave the roads and build other installations,” the communiqué said, adding that the border point would help link roads in the two countries.
Saudi Arabia occupies 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula and Oman occupies the southeastern corner of the peninsula. Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE border Oman on the west.
During his meeting with Bousaeedi, Prince Naif underscored the strong relations between the two countries. “We consider the security of Oman as part and parcel of the Kingdom’s security,” Naif said and called for further strengthening their security cooperation.
Prince Naif emphasized the significance of security in the life and development of a nation. “In spite of the terrorist attacks that occurred in the past years, Saudi Arabia enjoys security and this is evident from its growing economy and increasing foreign investment,” he said. He praised Saudi security forces for their efforts to root out terrorism from the country.
