Policy paper

Joint statement: strategic dialogue on international development and humanitarian assistance between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom

Published 2 December 2025

The UK and Saudi Arabia strengthen partnership to deliver life-saving aid and sign landmark agreement on development finance

2 December 2025

The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today concluded the third Strategic Dialogue on Humanitarian Aid and International Development in London, reaffirming the shared commitment to delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance to the world’s most vulnerable communities and advancing reforms to make global aid more effective.

Building on the success of previous dialogues in London (2023) and Riyadh (2024), this year’s meeting brought together ministers and senior officials to review progress and agree new priorities for collaboration. The UK-Saudi partnership is unique:  it combines resources and expertise to deliver aid where it matters most and to shape a global system that is more responsive, transparent and accountable.

Ministerial remarks at the opening plenary of the strategic dialogue on humanitarian aid and international development in London.

Delivering impact where it matters most

At a time of growing humanitarian need and constrained budgets, the UK and Saudi Arabia are stepping up joint efforts to respond to crises and improve the global aid system. During this Dialogue, both sides agreed to launch 3 new joint projects:

• Yemen - Food Security: meeting urgent food needs of over 400,000 people in Yemen in the world’s third worst food insecurity context, through integrated nutrition and health programmes
• Bangladesh - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): improving access to clean water and sanitation for over 1 million Rohingya refugees
• Bangladesh - Food Security: expanding food assistance for over 100,000 Rohingya refugees to combat malnutrition and support vulnerable families

This new collaboration builds on joint efforts already delivering results in Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, where UK-Saudi projects have strengthened health systems, tackled severe malnutrition, and prevented cholera outbreaks. These projects will help save lives, prevent disease, and restore dignity for communities facing conflict and displacement.

Mobilising development finance and global reform

Beyond immediate relief, the UK and Saudi Arabia committed to:

• strengthen collaboration on development finance, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to increase collaboration between British International Investment (BII) and Saudi’s new development finance institution, Saudi Eksab
• deepen cooperation on UN reform and international financial architecture, advocating for a system that is faster, more transparent, and accountable to those most in need

The Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman said today:

Part of our new, modern approach to international development is working with others to share expertise and resources.

That’s what we’re doing with Saudi Arabia. Through our partnership, we’re delivering life-saving support where it’s needed most. Together, we’re helping provide food security for over 400,000 people in Yemen, improving access to clean water and sanitation for 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and expanding food assistance to combat malnutrition. 

We’re also breaking new ground by partnering British International Investment with Saudi Eksab to mobilise development finance, whilst championing UN reform to make global aid faster and more accountable. 

This is modern development in action.

Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), said:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, deeply values its impactful partnership with the United Kingdom in delivering urgent humanitarian and development assistance to people in need around the world.

In our shared mission to address some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises and development challenges, we remain committed to saving and improving lives by strengthening our capacity to provide aid across all humanitarian sectors, guided by best practices and innovative technologies.

He further added:

This Dialogue reflects the UK’s and Saudi Arabia’s renewed approach to humanitarian and development cooperation – expanding partnerships, strengthening joint programming, and improving aid effectiveness to ensure that the support delivered has a measurable and lasting impact on communities around the world.