Saudi Arabia

Pak's Asim Munir conferred with Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour

Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has been awarded Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour, the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence. Munir is currently on an official visit to the Kingdom. Under a Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's highest national honour was also conferred upon the Field Marshal, the army said on Monday. The Saudi leadership conveyed its appreciation for Field Marshal Asim Munir's professionalism and strategic outlook, noting his commitment to strengthening the longstanding, brotherly ties between the two countries. Field Marshal Munir expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership for the honour, describing it as a reflection of the enduring bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the security, stability, and prosperity

Saudi Arabia expands access to alcohol store for its non-Muslim residents

The kingdom, which adheres to Islamic Sharia law, has opened movie theatres, allowed women to drive and hosted major music festivals

India, Saudi Arabia ink pact to boost official travels, bilateral exchanges

The move aims to facilitate the movement under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council

Saudi may ease liquor rules, to allow non-Muslim residents: Details

Non-Muslim foreign residents who have a monthly earning of 50,000 riyals ($13,300) will reportedly be allowed to make purchases

Saudi Arabia cuts crude rates as India buys more oil from the US, Russia

Saudi Arabia is offering more competitive rates amid widening discounts of $5-7 per barrel offered on Russian Urals barrels and a surge in purchases of US crude oil by India

BorderPlus to send 1,000 Indian nurses to Gulf Cooperation Council by FY27

GCC healthcare ecosystem projected to require over 50,000 additional nurses by 2027, says BorderPlus CEO

Spectacular Saudi' Returns to India: Showcases Cultural Brilliance with Immersive Experiences, and Unbeatable Travel Offers Across 5 Cities

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Trump bets on tech, Saudi-backed AI investments to drive US economy

President Donald Trump is increasingly counting on the tech sector and the development of artificial intelligence to deliver on his economic agenda, a reality laid bare this week as he hosted Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The crown prince has committed to invest USD 1 trillion with US companies, a pledge that is largely about using Saudi Arabia's oil and natural gas reserves to pivot his nation into becoming an AI data hub. We will work closely with friends and partners like those in this room to build the largest, most powerful, most innovative AI ecosystem in the world, Trump said at the US-Saudi Investment Forum on Wednesday. Sitting in the front row of the audience at the Kennedy Center were Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump took credit for the new investments and stock market performance this year both of which have been a function of the AI buildout. For all of Trump's claims that his tariffs are generating new investmen

Going to be selling Saudi some of the greatest military equipment: Trump

Donald Trump noted that the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia has probably grown stronger

What to know about F-35 fighter jet that Trump is selling to Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump says he has agreed to sell the nation's most advanced fighter jet to Saudi Arabia despite concerns that China could gain access to the plane's vaunted American technology. The sale to the Middle Eastern nation, whose top trading partner is China, was reaffirmed Tuesday during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington. Some in the Republican administration also have been wary that selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia will upset Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbours, especially at a time when Trump is depending on Israeli support for the success of his Gaza peace plan. Israel, which deployed the F-35 in its 12-day war against Iran in June, is among 19 other nations that already have the plane or have agreements to buy it. It was nearly 20 years ago when the first F-35 Lightning strike fighter rolled off an assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, hailed as a technological leap and lamented as a military money pit. Since then, more th

Jeddah Consulate opens camp in Madina, Consul General meets crash survivor

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a camp office in Madina to assist the families of Indians who died in a bus accident involving Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, the mission said on Tuesday. Forty-four Indian Umrah pilgrims, including 42 from Telangana, were killed in a collision involving their bus and a fuel tanker near Madina in the wee hours of Monday. The local authorities had confirmed that there is one Indian survivor, and he is undergoing medical treatment. In a social media post, the Consulate said it has set up the camp office in the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office in Madina to assist the families of Indians who died in the accident. In a separate post, the mission said Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri met Abdul Shoeb Mohammed, the lone survivor of the accident, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Madina. "Concerned hospital authorities have informed that the best possible medical care is being provided to him. Consulate wishes him a spee

One more Karnataka woman among Indians killed in Saudi bus accident

An 80-year-old woman from Bidar in Karnataka was among the Indian Umrah pilgrims killed near Saudi Arabia's Madina, after their bus collided with an oil tanker, officials here said on Tuesday. According to officials, the deceased woman was identified as Rahmat Bee of Mailur CMC Colony here. She had gone to Saudi Arabia via Hyderabad, officials said, adding that they are in touch with concerned authorities and family members. On Monday, the state government officials confirmed the death of Abdul Gani Shirahatti (55) from Hubballi in the tragedy. At least 45 Indians, the majority of them Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, were killed in Saudi Arabia's Madina after their bus collided with an oil tanker, officials in Telangana said on Monday. However, officials in New Delhi familiar with the development maintained that 42 persons were killed in the accident.

Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia despite China concerns

US President Donald Trump's plan to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has raised concerns among US officials about possible technology leaks to China

US to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia on eve of crown prince's visit, says Trump

The crown prince, who is set to make a White House visit Tuesday, had been expected to arrive with a wish list that includes receiving formal assurances from Trump

Saudi bus accident: Hyderabad Police Commissioner confirms 45 dead

At least 45 people, most of them from Hyderabad, were killed in a bus accident in Saudi Arabia, the city police chief said on Monday, citing preliminary information. Addressing reporters here, Hyderabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar said a total of 54 people travelled to Jeddah from here on November 9. They were scheduled to return on November 23. Of the 54, four people travelled separately by car to Madina on Sunday, while another four stayed back in Mecca. According to the official, 46 people were travelling in the ill-fated bus, which collided with an oil tanker about 25 km from Madina. Only one person survived the accident and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. "We are getting information that 45 people died. They were supposed to return to Hyderabad on 23rd (of November)," he added. AIMIM MLA Majid Hussain said, "We have received information that over 40 people died in the accident, and we are coordinating with the families." The Consulate General of India i

Saudi bus–tanker collision: 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims feared dead: What we know so far

At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, many from Hyderabad, are feared dead after a bus travelling from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, Saudi Arabia early Monday. Authorities

42 Indian pilgrims feared dead in bus-tanker collision in Saudi Arabia

The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were travelling to Medina when the tragedy struck. Many were reportedly asleep at the moment of impact

Trump to welcome Saudi crown prince with deal signings, lavish dinner

It's not an official state visit, but the White House is preparing to host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next week with the pomp and circumstance that is typical of one. The crown prince's day at the White House next Tuesday will begin with an arrival ceremony on the sweeping South Lawn and a subsequent greeting on the South Portico, according to a senior White House official. Then Trump will host him in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting, followed by a signing and lunch in the Cabinet Room where the US and Saudi Arabia will formalise multiple economic and defence agreements, said the official, granted anonymity to discuss the administration's planning. Later in the evening, the White House will hold an East Room dinner hosted and planned by first lady Melania Trump. His visit is billed as an official working visit because Prince Mohammed is not technically a head of state, the official said. On Wednesday, dozens of CEOs are expected to attend a meeting of the US-Sau

Headwinds for Trump in getting Saudi crown prince to back Israel ties

President Donald Trump has not been subtle about how badly he wants to see Saudi Arabia and Israel normalise relations. He has talked up his push to extend his first term Abraham Accords the project that formalised commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and a trio of Arab nations as key to his plan for bringing long-term stability to the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues to hold. The normalisation push is expected to be high on the agenda when Trump hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday for talks during a pomp-filled White House visit. I hope that Saudi Arabia will be going into the Abraham Accords very shortly, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday as he made his way to Florida for the weekend. Yet Trump's optimism that a US-brokered deal could come soon is tempered by more sober internal assessments. Saudi Arabia is unlikely to sign on to the accords anytime soon, but there is cautious optimism

Saudi's free 96-hour stopover visa lets Indians perform Umrah in transit

The visa, available to passengers flying on Saudia and Flynas, lets travellers turn a simple layover into a 4-day spiritual visit to Makkah and Madinah without applying for the traditional Umrah visa.