Saudi Arabia

Troops from NATO member Turkey, nuclear-armed Pakistan headed to Saudi Arabia

Turkey and Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia in a "rapid deployment" under a new mutual defense alliance, the three countries said Monday, as the kingdom faces escalating attacks…

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Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and Iran’s war planning raise fears of wider Middle East conflict

Iran is preparing a broader and more forceful response in case the United States resumes large-scale military attacks, sources said, as its Houthi allies in Yemen traded strikes with a…

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Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as Houthis step up attacks

Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs are to meet to discuss how to support Saudi Arabia under a joint defence pact, after Saudi's top religious authority told troops to be…

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Saudi Arabia lifts alert in southern city a day after Houthi strikes

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense lifted an alert it had announced in the southern city of Khamis Mushait on Wednesday, a day after Houthi attacks there and in three other nearby…

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Houthis threaten Saudi shipping as Iran conflict widens

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it was imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front in the regional conflict and increasing concerns over global energy supplies…

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Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia, breaking years of calm

Yemen's Houthi movement fired missiles at Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control on Monday, breaking a four-year truce in the conflict between ‌the…

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Saudi Arabia launched covert attacks on Iran as regional war widened

Saudi Arabia launched numerous, unpublicized strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out in the kingdom during the Middle East war, two Western officials briefed on the matter and…

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US Orders Non-Essential Staff to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Rising Security Threats

The United States has ordered all non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, citing growing safety concerns amid a series of missile and drone incidents in the…

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Saudi-UAE Tensions Rise After Airstrike

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that its national security was a red line and backed a call for United Arab Emirates forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours, shortly after…

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Saudi Arabia to open more alcohol stores as curbs ease

Saudi Arabia plans to open two new alcohol stores, including one serving non-Muslim, foreign staff at state oil giant Aramco, as the kingdom further eases restrictions, according to people briefed…

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Saudi warned Iran to reach nuclear deal with Trump or risk Israeli strike

Saudi Arabia's defence minister delivered a blunt message to Iranian officials in Tehran last month: take President Donald Trump's offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously because it presents a…

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Trump meets Syrian president, says he is looking into normalising ties

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria's president in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after a surprise U.S. announcement it would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government, and said Washington…

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Trump says US to lift Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi deal

President Donald Trump kicked off his trip to the Gulf on Tuesday with a surprise announcement that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and a $600 billion…

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Saudi Arabia’s role as Ukraine war mediator advances Gulf nation’s diplomatic rehabilitation

By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute, Rice University Saudi Arabia is 2,000 miles from Ukraine and even more politically distant, so at first glance it…

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Saudi Arabia, UAE seen as possible venues for Trump-Putin summit

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are seen by Russia as possible venues for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, two Russian sources…

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Saudi Arabia asks legendary film score composer Hans Zimmer to create new version of national anthem

Saudi Arabia has asked legendary Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer to work on a new version of its national anthem, according to a senior official in the country. The move comes…

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Saudi Arabia announces new global coalition to establish Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat announced the launch of a new initiative to establish a Palestinian state and garner support for the implementation of a two-state solution after decades of international…

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More than 1,000 die in haj amid scorching temperatures

More than 1,000 people died during haj this year, according to a Reuters tally, as extreme heat hammered the nearly two million who took part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage…

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Soaring temperatures scorch pilgrims on Haj in Saudi Arabia

Throngs of tightly packed pilgrims struggled through searing heat which has claimed lives during the annual Haj pilgrimage as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit) in the shade of…

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Saudi king to be treated for lung inflammation

Saudi King Salman will undergo treatment at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah for a lung inflammation, the state news agency said, hours after he underwent medical tests. Citing the royal…

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Saudi sovereign wealth fund pitches kingdom as AI hub

MIAMI (Reuters) - The head of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) pitched the kingdom as a prospective hub for artificial intelligence activity outside the United States, citing its energy…

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Saudi Arabia to manufacture parts of Lockheed missile defence system

U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin has signed agreements for Saudi Arabian companies to manufacture parts of its missile defense system, as the U.S. continues to conduct military operations in the…

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Saudi Arabia has not yet joined BRICS – Saudi official source

Saudi Arabia is still considering an invitation to become a member of the BRICS bloc of countries after being asked to join by the group last year, a Saudi official…

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Saudi Arabia prepares to open first alcohol store for diplomats

Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh which will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats, according to a source familiar with the plans and a…

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UPDATED: Russia requests UN Security Council meeting after U.S. and Britain strike Yemen

MOSCOW, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Russia on Friday scolded the United States and Britain for military strikes on Yemen which Moscow said escalated tensions across the Middle East and showed…

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Saudi Arabia launches new residency plans to draw foreign talent

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Thursday launched new residency programs aimed at attracting skilled professionals and investment as the Gulf country forges ahead with its plan to pivot its economy…

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Putin talks with Saudi crown prince dominated by oil and geopolitics

By Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed OPEC+ cooperation on oil markets and the Middle East situation, the Kremlin said, during…

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Arab and Muslim leaders demand immediate end to Gaza war

By Aziz El Yaakoubi and Nayera Abdallah RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries called for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, rejecting Israel's justification of…

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UPDATED: Blinken says meeting with Saudi Crown Prince was “very productive”

By Humeyra Pamuk RIYADH, Oct 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said he held a "very productive" meeting with the Saudi crown prince in Riyadh,…

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Iran president, Saudi crown prince speak for first time since ties restored

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Wednesday, in the first telephone call between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal…

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Russia, Saudi Arabia discuss oil market, prices amid Israel-Hamas war

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's top two oil exporters, on Wednesday discussed the situation on the oil market and prices amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, President…

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US-Saudi defence pact tied to Israel deal, Palestinian demands put aside

By Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie, Matt Spetalnick and Aziz El Yaakoubi Sept 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend…

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Saudi Arabia says it plans tougher IAEA checks on its nuclear activities

Saudi Arabia said on Monday it has decided to end light-touch oversight of its nuclear activities by the U.N. atomic watchdog and switch to full-blown safeguards, a change the agency…

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Saudi crown prince says getting ‘closer’ to Israel normalization -Fox interview

By Matt Spetalnick and Eric Beech WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a U.S. television interview that his country was moving steadily closer to…

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Saudi Arabia eyes world stage after BRICS invitation

China-led expansion calls for counterweight to West Saudi-U.S. ties strained over energy policy Washington concerned about non-dollar oil sales Iran, Egypt, UAE, Argentina, Ethiopia join BRICS By Yousef Saba and…

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Saudi Arabia considers Chinese bid for nuclear plant -WSJ

Saudi Arabia is considering a Chinese bid to build it a nuclear power plant, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, a decision that could derail U.S. plans in the…

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Saudi Arabia buys Turkish drones during Erdogan’s visit

Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday to buy Turkish drones, one of several lucrative contracts President Tayyip Erdogan secured for Turkey's struggling economy as Ankara reaps the benefits of his recent…

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Saudi Arabia and Russia deepen oil cuts, sending prices higher

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, deepened oil cuts on Monday, sending prices higher despite…

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Two dead after exchange of fire near US consulate in Jeddah

A man with a firearm was stopped near the American Consulate building in Jeddah before an exchange of fire broke out with the security authorities, which led to his death, Saudi Press Agency…

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Defying high prices, Muslim pilgrims head to Mecca for haj

By Arafat Barbakh MECCA, Saudi Arabia, June 26 (Reuters) - Palestinian pilgrim Abu Anas Abu Rahal was hoping to find cheaper lodgings for a week-long stay in Islam's holiest sites…

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Saudi Arabia economy grew 3.8% boosted by non-oil activities

DUBAI, June 8 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's economy grew by 3.8% year on year in the first quarter of 2023, the General Authority for Statistics said on Thursday, broadly in…

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Saudi population at 32.2 mln, 63% of Saudis under 30 years old -census

RIYADH, May 31 (Reuters) - The population of Saudi Arabia has reached 32.2 million, 42% of whom are foreign nationals with 63% of Saudis under age 30, the country's general…

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Saudi embrace of Assad sends strong signal to US

By Samia Nakhoul and Aziz El Yaakoubi Once labelled a pariah, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took centre stage as master of ceremonies last week when Arab states readmitted…

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UPDATED: Syria’s Assad to attend Arab summit, bringing regional isolation to an end

By Aziz El Yaakoubi JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, May 19 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Saudi Arabia on Friday to attend an Arab summit where he will rub…

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to headline Arab summit

By Aziz El Yaakoubi Summit will mark Assad's return to fold West unhappy with development Sudan conflict among other issues to be raised Saudi asserts leadership, as Qatar steps back…

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ANALYSIS: Qatar takes diplomatic back seat as Saudi flexes political muscle

Qatar loses diplomatic clout as Saudi influence grows Doha-based Syria diplomatic mission only revolutionary embassy Arab leaders set to welcome Assad gov't back in Friday summit By Andrew Mills DOHA,…

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Eid al-Fitr to start for Sunni Muslims

Saudi Arabia, the country with Islam's holiest city of Mecca, has announced that this year's Eid al-Fitr will start on Friday, marking the end of Ramadan. "Tomorrow, Friday, is the…

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Saudi Arabia, Syria welcome thaw in ties, agree to fight drug trafficking

RIYADH, (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Syria's foreign ministers welcomed a thaw in bilateral ties, including steps to resume consular services and flights, and agreed to cooperate to fight drug…

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Saudi-Iranian ties: A history of ups and downs

DUBAI, April 6 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in China for the first formal meeting of their most senior diplomats in more than seven…

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Egypt’s Sisi visits Saudi Arabia amid financial pressure, regional realignment

RIYADH (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Saudi state news agency SPA said, as Cairo seeks financial inflows to ease pressure on its currency…

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Saudi Arabia to invite Syria’s Assad to Arab leaders summit

RIYADH/BEIRUT, April 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is planning to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to an Arab League summit that Riyadh is hosting in May, three sources familiar with…

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Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers to meet during Muslim holy month

March 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet during the ongoing Muslim holy month of…

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After Iran, Saudi Arabia to re-establish ties with Syria

Saudi Arabia, Syria cut ties more than a decade ago Agreement on reopening embassies follows Saudi-Iran deal BEIRUT/RIYADH, (Reuters) - Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reopen their embassies…

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Saudi investment in Iran could happen ‘very quickly’ after agreement – minister

By Rachna Uppal RIYADH, March 15 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's finance minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, said on Wednesday that Saudi investments into Iran could happen "very quickly" following an agreement. "There…

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Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to resume ties, re-open embassies

March 10 (Reuters) - Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations after talks in Beijing between officials from the two rival Middle East powers, Iranian state media…

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Saudi Arabia deposits $5 bln in Turkey’s central bank

DUBAI, March 6 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with Turkey to deposit $5 billion in the country's central bank through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the…

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Arab states need new approach towards Syria, says Saudi foreign minister

DUBAI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said consensus was building in the Arab world that isolating Syria was not working and that dialogue with Damascus was needed…

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