RIYADH — The Saudi ambassador to Iraq has announced the official reopening of the Saudi-Iraqi border crossing on Oct. 15.

Ambassador Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari’s announcement is the culmination of several years of talks.

The Arar border crossing has been closed since 1990 when Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait strained relations with the Kingdom.

The reopening of the border crossing for the first time in 29 years is part of a wider rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad back in 2015 after it remained closed for 25 years.

In April 2019, Saudi Arabia pledged $1 billion to build a sports city in Iraq after the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment, Majid Al-Qasabi, led a ministerial delegation to attend the second meeting of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council in Baghdad.

The first Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council meeting was held in October 2017. The council was formed in 2017 with the aim of consulting and coordinating on issues of mutual interest and enhancing cooperation between the two sides in various fields. — Al Arabiya English