Al-Faris: Saudi Arabia Achieved Prominent Results in Combating Corruption

The Public Authority for Combating Corruption (Nizahat) confirmed that its delegation’s visit to the Saudi Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaah) aligns with its strategy to enhance cooperation with peer institutions and to learn from advanced regional and international experiences in combating corruption. The visit aims to benefit from models that have achieved tangible results in oversight, investigation, prosecution of corruption cases, asset recovery, and protection of public funds.

Dr. Rana Al-Faris, Chairperson of Nizahat, led the delegation during the official visit to Riyadh. She was accompanied by Dr. Majad Al-Daihani, Vice Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors; Dr. Dhiya Al-Atiqi, Board Member; Fawaz Al-Mutairi, Assistant Secretary-General for the Corruption Detection and Investigation Sector; and Abdulrahman Al-Wazan, Representative of the International Cooperation Department. The visit was conducted under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two authorities in 2022, reflecting a broader effort to activate this agreement and translate institutional cooperation into practical exchanges of expertise and experiences.

Dr. Al-Faris emphasized that the visit to the Saudi Anti-Corruption Authority underscores Nizahat’s commitment to strengthening ties with peer bodies and leveraging advanced anti-corruption practices. This initiative stems from the desire to observe one of the most prominent regional experiences in fighting corruption and to learn from a robust and decisive model in oversight, investigation, accountability, asset recovery, and protection of public funds. She noted that the Saudi experience has yielded notable results, including the recovery of funds and assets, alongside accumulated institutional and practical expertise in prosecuting corruption cases, enhancing oversight, and safeguarding public resources.

“We look forward to benefiting from experiences that have proven their ability to deliver practical results in combating corruption, and to transitioning from merely identifying vulnerabilities and suspicions to adopting more effective tools for detection, investigation, accountability, protection of public funds, and asset recovery,” Al-Faris said.

She added that combating corruption goes beyond prevention and awareness; it requires an integrated system equipped with the necessary tools and capacities for detection, investigation, accountability, as well as prevention, integrity promotion, and transparency. This makes exchanging expertise with peer institutions that possess advanced experiences a crucial component of developing institutional and technical capabilities.

During the visit, the Nizahat delegation, led by Dr. Al-Faris, reviewed the Saudi “I’timad” platform and its role in enhancing the transparency of government competitions, improving expenditure efficiency, and facilitating financial transactions. This review took place during the delegation’s visit to the National Center for Government Resource Systems in Saudi Arabia to study the platform’s components and operational framework.

In a statement, Dr. Al-Faris stressed that closing corruption loopholes requires developing the systems through which decisions are made and public funds are disbursed. She highlighted the importance of clear disbursement and contracting procedures, ensuring fair competition, and strengthening the capacity for review and accountability.

For his part, Dr. Majad Al-Daihani, Vice Chairman of Nizahat’s Board of Directors, clarified that procedural clarity and data integration support oversight and help identify risks. He emphasized the importance of studying the foundations of the Saudi experience and evaluating what can be adapted in Kuwait, in coordination with relevant authorities.

The “I’timad” platform aims to standardize procedures, accelerate financial transactions, increase transparency and government expenditure efficiency, promote local content, and expand the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises.