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The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Kingdom pledged $6 million to support programs at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre with the funding to be distributed over four years starting in the 2027 fiscal year. The announcement came as Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the margins of the high-level week of the 81st session of the General Assembly. The contribution reflects Saudi Arabia’s recognition of the centre’s role in building capacities for member states and unifying global counter-terrorism efforts.
Saudi Arabia has maintained its position as the founding donor and remains the largest contributor to the centre. United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism data places the Kingdom’s cumulative contributions at more than $110 million since the centre’s launch which accounts for nearly half of all pledges received to date. This latest pledge adds to that record as the centre looks to broaden its funding base beyond the original grant.
The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre was established in 2011 after an initial $10 million contribution from Saudi Arabia. A further $100 million donation followed in 2014 according to UN records allowing the centre to expand its support for projects aligned with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The strategy encompasses four pillars that address conditions conducive to terrorism prevention and combat measures international cooperation and human rights safeguards.
More recently Saudi Arabia provided $300,000 to help implement the Arab Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategy which was developed with support from the centre and adopted by the Arab Interior Ministers Council. The new four-year commitment continues this pattern of cooperation between the Kingdom and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. Saudi Arabia chairs the centre’s advisory board which guides its strategic direction and project selection.
Programs funded through such contributions focus on capacity development in areas including border security criminal justice responses and efforts to prevent violent extremism. The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism annual report for 2025 noted that flexible funding from donors like Saudi Arabia has enabled rapid responses to emerging threats across multiple regions. The centre has delivered assistance to dozens of member states through training technical support and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
As activities under the original founding grant near completion the additional resources will help sustain operations into the future. The UN has consistently encouraged member states to increase voluntary contributions to the centre to maintain its work in promoting the global strategy. Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support aligns with its long-standing advocacy for multilateral approaches to countering terrorism in all forms.
