Saudi Arabia News

Saudi Grand Mufti Calls for Unity Among Forces Defending Southern Border

According to the supplied newsroom notes, Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan called on Saudi troops stationed along the southern border to remain united while defending national territory and Islamic holy sites.

Riyadh Season Prepares Expanded International Entertainment Programme

Saudi entertainment officials have previewed an upcoming Riyadh Season featuring international music acts, culinary events and immersive attractions designed to draw domestic and overseas visitors during the winter calendar.

Saudi Green Initiative Expands Tree Planting Across Northern and Central Provinces

Environmental authorities say millions of drought-resistant native trees and shrubs have been planted as Saudi Arabia expands afforestation efforts intended to combat desertification and improve local environmental conditions.

KAUST Researchers Advance Desalination and Solar Technology

Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have reported new work on zero-liquid-discharge desalination and next-generation photovoltaic cells aimed at improving water and energy efficiency.

Diriyah Restoration Combines Historic Architecture With New Hospitality Development

Restoration work in Diriyah is advancing across its traditional mud-brick districts while the wider development integrates heritage conservation with new museums and luxury hotels.

Saudi Arabia Advances Hotel Pipeline Across Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Giga-Projects

Hospitality developers are advancing a large pipeline of new hotel rooms across Saudi Arabia’s major cities and tourism projects as the Kingdom expands capacity for international visitors.

Saudi Construction Consulting Market Reaches US$20 Billion Amid Megaproject Boom

Industry estimates put the Kingdom’s construction consulting market at US$20 billion, supported by an active development pipeline of roughly US$600 billion spanning projects including Neom, Qiddiya City, Diriyah and Roshn communities.

Saudi Non-Oil Exports Extend Growth as Trade Agreements Expand

Saudi trade data show continued growth in non-oil exports as new bilateral economic agreements deepen commercial links with markets across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Arabian Drilling Secures Five-Year Agreement for Eight Additional Gas Rigs

Arabian Drilling has finalised a five-year agreement with Schlumberger covering eight additional high-capacity rigs as Saudi Arabia works to expand domestic natural gas production.

Saudi Industrial Development Fund Expands Renewable Energy Financing Through Mutajadeda

The Mutajadeda programme offers long-term financing and grace periods for renewable-energy manufacturers and power developers, supporting domestic production of solar and wind components and new generation projects.

Saudi Arabia Approves SME Strategy Targeting 35% Contribution to GDP

The Saudi Cabinet approved a national entrepreneurship and small-business framework aimed at expanding startup activity, improving access to venture capital and raising the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to 35% of GDP.

Saudi Aramco and PIF Expand AI, Automation and Sovereign Cloud Cooperation

Saudi Aramco and the Public Investment Fund are deepening work on data infrastructure, industrial automation and sovereign cloud technology as the Kingdom expands advanced digital capabilities across major industries.

PIF-Backed HUMAIN Unveils 428-Billion-Parameter Arabic AI Model

Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN introduced the 428-billion-parameter HUMAIN M3 foundation model, expanding the Kingdom’s push to develop large-scale Arabic-language artificial intelligence capabilities.

Saudi PIF Sets 2026-2030 Strategy Focused on Investment Efficiency and Private Sector Growth

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is shifting from rapid expansion toward sustained value creation, higher investment efficiency and greater private-sector participation under its strategy through 2030.

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan Prepare Urgent Defence Chiefs Meeting

The three countries are preparing a meeting of their chiefs of staff to consider support for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all three.

France Pledges Troops, Radars and Air Defences to Protect Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu Oil Hub

French President Emmanuel Macron said France will deploy military personnel, radar and defensive systems to help protect Yanbu’s strategic energy infrastructure following renewed cross-border attacks.

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Six Houthi Ballistic Missiles Targeting Taif and Yanbu

Saudi air defences intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis toward Taif and the Red Sea energy hub of Yanbu, adding to regional security concerns and pressure on global oil markets.

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital Prepares Riyadh Conference With One Hundred Saudi and International Speakers

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and Research Center will hold its forty-third annual international conference in Riyadh from October 1 to 3, bringing together eighty-eight Saudi and twelve international specialists in ophthalmology a...

Saudi Arabia Opens Arabian Gulf Cup Campaign With One-Nil Victory Over Kuwait in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia defeated Kuwait one-nil as the twenty-seventh Arabian Gulf Cup opened in Jeddah, with the regional tournament beginning alongside National Day celebrations and a visit by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Saudi National Day Celebrations Draw Crowds Across the Kingdom With Air Shows, Parades and Cultural Events

Saudi Arabia marked National Day with fireworks, drone displays, military and naval demonstrations, traditional performances and public celebrations across cities and regions including Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and the Eastern Province.

Jeddah Advances Waterfront and Historic District Projects to Expand Tourism and Public Spaces

Jeddah’s development programme includes a four point four kilometre Historic Jeddah waterfront, a planned yacht marina, pedestrian bridges and new maritime walkways alongside the city’s existing waterfronts and more than four hundred for...

Saudi Aid Agency Calls for Diplomacy to Remove Political Barriers to Humanitarian Assistance

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center co-hosted a UN meeting on humanitarian diplomacy, arguing that political obstruction is increasingly limiting relief operations in conflict zones after the Saudi agency delivered thousan...

Saudi Arabia and Senegal Lead UN Push for Stronger International Cooperation on Water Security

Saudi Arabia and Senegal co-chaired a United Nations ministerial event calling for greater global cooperation on water scarcity, access and security as rising demand puts increasing pressure on communities and economies.

Saudi Scholarship Programme Places More Than One Thousand Five Hundred Students at Leading US and Canadian Universities

Saudi officials said about one thousand five hundred forty-five students are enrolled at leading universities in the United States and Canada under the Kingdom’s scholarship programme, with engineering, computing, science and medicine am...

Saudi Arabia Reflags Major Offshore Drilling Rig as Kingdom Expands Maritime Energy Capabilities

Saudi Arabia registered the Bob Palmer offshore drilling platform under the national flag in cooperation with ARO, marking another step in efforts to strengthen domestic offshore drilling and maritime capacity.

Saudi Arabia Proposes Risk-Based Capital Rules as Part of Wider Financial Regulatory Review

The Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center opened thirty-five proposed regulatory and development measures for public consultation, including new Insurance Authority rules linking insurers’ capital requirements more closely to their r...

Saudi Robotics Partnership Targets Deployment of Up to Ten Thousand Humanoid Machines Over Five Years

Humanoid and Saudi Arabia’s QSS Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have established a framework for up to ten thousand humanoid robots, with local assembly planned in Riyadh for deployment across manufacturing, logistics, energy, retai...

Riyadh Issues More Than One Hundred Forty-One Thousand Infrastructure Permits in 2026

Riyadh’s Infrastructure Projects Center has issued more than one hundred forty-one thousand permits since the start of the year, with active works affecting more than one thousand one hundred kilometres of roads as development continues ...

Saudi Arabia and ASEAN Partners Seek Wider Trade and Investment Cooperation Through GCC Framework

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan joined a Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN ministerial meeting in New York focused on turning expanding relations into practical projects covering trade, investment, economic development and wid...

Saudi Arabia Posts Fourteen Point Three Six Billion Riyal Trade Surplus as Exports Fall Seventeen Point Two Percent

Saudi Arabia recorded a July merchandise trade surplus of fourteen point three six billion riyals, or about three point eight three billion dollars, even as exports fell seventeen point two percent from a year earlier to eighty-four poin...

Microsoft Plans More Than Ten Billion Dollars of Gulf Investment Including Saudi Cloud and Artificial Intelligence Expansion

Microsoft plans to invest more than ten billion dollars across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait through 2030, expanding cloud and Artificial Intelligence infrastructure while continuing technology cooperation with...

European Union Prepares Strategic Partnership Talks With Saudi Arabia Ahead of October Riyadh Summit

The European Union is preparing to open strategic partnership negotiations with Saudi Arabia as Gulf security disruptions increase the importance of cooperation on energy, trade, transport and digital connectivity ahead of an October 24 ...

Saudi Arabia Calls for Faster Gaza Recovery and Unrestricted Humanitarian Access Ahead of Winter

Saudi representatives at the United Nations urged implementation of the next phase of Gaza’s ceasefire and recovery framework, faster reconstruction and unobstructed humanitarian access as winter approaches.

Saudi Arabia Intensifies UN Push for Palestinian Statehood and Implementation of Two-State Solution

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan opened a high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, warning that continued delays were increasing the human cost of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Eighty Countries Condemn Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia and Call for Full Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

A joint statement issued at the United Nations condemned continuing Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and Iranian restrictions on Gulf navigation, calling for safe and unrestricted vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia Sells Nearly One Hundred Million Barrels of Crude to Asian Buyers as Supply Tightens

Saudi Arabia sold almost one hundred million barrels for October and November delivery to refiners in China, India, Japan and South Korea, with Saudi Aramco offering to manage shipping as regional buyers contend with tighter supplies and...

Saudi Arabia Restarts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attack Disrupted Strategic Export Route

Saudi Arabia has begun restoring operations on the East-West pipeline after a September 10 drone attack, bringing back a crucial route capable of moving crude to the Red Sea while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Six Houthi Ballistic Missiles Targeting Taif and Yanbu

The Saudi-led coalition said air defences intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthis toward Taif and Yanbu, adding to regional security concerns as Brent crude approached one hundred and eight dollars a ...

Aramco Second-Quarter Free Cash Flow Covers 56% of Base Dividend

Saudi Aramco generated $12.3 billion in second-quarter free cash flow against a declared base dividend of $21.9 billion, with working-capital requirements weighing on cash generation during the period.

Saudi Tourism Projects Expand Digital Technology as Kingdom Targets 150 Million Annual Visits

Saudi Arabia continues to integrate digital services and advanced technology into major tourism destinations while pursuing its national goal of attracting 150 million domestic and international visits annually by 2030.

PIF’s 64% Stake in stc Remains Central to Saudi Digital Infrastructure Strategy

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund retains a 64% holding in stc Group, whose businesses span telecommunications, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital payments and other infrastructure supporting the Kingdom’s technology expansion.

Saudi Arabia and France Extend AlUla Partnership Through 2035

Riyadh and Paris have extended their cooperation on AlUla through 2035, continuing joint work in archaeology, heritage, culture, tourism and sustainable development around one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship destinations.

PIF-Led Consortium Completes $55 Billion Acquisition of Electronic Arts

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners have completed their acquisition of Electronic Arts, deepening PIF’s exposure to global gaming and entertainment as part of its diversification strategy.

PIF Provides Additional Capital to Lucid as Saudi EV Manufacturing Expands

A Public Investment Fund affiliate committed another $550 million to Lucid and expanded an existing financing facility, supporting the electric-vehicle maker as it develops production capacity and its broader Saudi manufacturing presence.

Aramco Signs French Agreements Worth More Than $3.7 Billion

Saudi Aramco has signed procurement agreements and a technology memorandum with French companies carrying a potential combined value above $3.7 billion, covering industrial equipment, digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Saudi Press