Page 4 - Saudi Arabia

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.

Jaishankar meets Ukrainian, Saudi counterparts on sidelines of G7 FMM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held separate meetings with his Ukrainian and Saudi counterparts on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) Outreach session in Canada, discussing recent developments and regional issues of mutual interest. Jaishankar, in a social media post, said he had a useful conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "He (Sybiha) shared Ukraine's perspective on recent developments," the EAM said. Jaishankar also met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and discussed a wide range of subjects, including bilateral relations, regional hotspots, connectivity, and energy. Jaishankar is in Niagara to attend an outreach session with the G7 partner nations. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with his American counterpart Marco Rubio that largely focused on issues relating to trade and supply chains. The external affairs minister also met his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand and reviewed ..

India, Saudi Arabia sign Haj Agreement, quota fixed at 175,025 for 2026

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has signed the bilateral Haj Agreement in Jeddah, with the country's quota for India confirmed at 175,025 for the pilgrimage in 2026. Rijiju, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from November 7 to 9, held a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, in Jeddah on Sunday. During the meeting, both ministers reviewed the ongoing Haj preparations, discussed measures to enhance coordination and logistical support, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further streamline the pilgrimage process for Indian pilgrims, an official statement said. The discussions focused on improving facilities, transportation, accommodation, and health services to ensure a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage experience. Following the meeting, the two sides signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj2026 in Jeddah. The country quota for India was confirmed at 175,025, the

Falling Saudi Arabia LPG prices likely to help refiners breathe easy

Saudi benchmark contract prices (CPs) for November for propane and butane, blended to make LPG, dropped to their lowest since August 2023 - $475 and $460 a tonne

Saudi Arabia's flyadeal to begin India flights in the first quarter of 2026

Bullish on the fast-growing Indian aviation market, Saudi Arabia's no-frills carrier flyadeal will start flights to Indian cities, including Mumbai, from the first quarter of 2026. The airline's CEO, Steven Greenway, told PTI that India is one of the "most hyper-competitive markets" in the world and there is a need to have an "absolute, brutal focus on unit cost". A sister company of Saudia Airlines, the Jeddah-based profitable flyadeal has been flying for over eight years and expects to have 46 planes in its fleet by the end of this year. Currently, the carrier has 42 A320 family aircraft and has also placed orders for 10 wide-body A330 Neos that are expected to start coming in from July 2027. "Our intent is to start operating (to India) in the quarter one of next year... We expect to do the metropolises like Mumbai and Delhi, and also, our focus will be the secondary cities in India... I think Mumbai would be the first one," Greenway told PTI in an interview. Saudi Arabia and Ind

Opec+ weighs small oil output hike for December ahead of key meet

Key members of the group led by Saudi Arabia are discussing a hike of about 137,000 barrels a day - matching those made in October and November

Datanomics: Kafala system abolition may end expats' misery in Saudi Arabia

Over 18 million workers were employed in Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 CY2025). Out of these, nearly 77.5 per cent were foreign workers

L&T bags grid infrastructure orders of up to ₹5,000 crore in Saudi Arabia

As part of its National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP), Saudi Arabia is upgrading its electricity grid to support renewable energy projects

Saudi Arabia, rich with oil, wants to be known as the AI exporter

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seizing a chance to turn Saudi Arabia's oil wealth into tech influence

Saudi ends Kafala system: How it could help millions of migrant Indian workers

In a landmark labour reform, Saudi Arabia has abolished the decades-old Kafala system, a move that frees millions of migrant workers, including 2.6 million Indians,