By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Indonesia, ASEAN, and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste hosted a joint iftar (fast-breaking) dinner on Tuesday, bringing together representatives from Indonesia’s Red and White Cabinet ministries, as well as ambassadors from various countries.

The event aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and foster camaraderie during the holy month of Ramadan.

“Ramadan is a month of friendship, and today’s gathering is a reflection of that spirit,” Saudi Ambassador Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi stated on the sidelines of the event.

He emphasized that Ramadan is not only a sacred and blessed month but also a time for strengthening bonds and engaging in acts of worship.

In light of this, the embassy organized the iftar dinner to reinforce ties with the Indonesian people — particularly representatives from the Red and White Cabinet, ambassadors from friendly nations in Jakarta, and members of Islamic organizations.

Ambassador Faisal expressed his hopes for peace, stability, and security for both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

Among the distinguished guests was former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who encouraged Indonesians to fully embrace the spirit of Ramadan.

“Ramadan is a holy month that brings blessings. It is important for all of us to observe Ramadan worship, including tarawih prayers, as best as we can,” he said.

In the meantime, the chairperson of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD), Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, also highlighted the significance of the iftar dinner in strengthening friendships and fostering national growth.

“This is a good month, a month full of blessings. Besides maintaining friendship, I learned a lot from them (about the need) to improve friendship so that this nation will also get better day by day, be more blessed day by day,” he said.

The iftar dinner was attended by several ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, including those from Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, and Kazakhstan.

Additionally, representatives from various Red and White Cabinet ministries and Islamic organizations were present.