Gulf News

Pilgrims Pray on Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches Peak

Gulf The flow of pilgrims to Mina proceeded smoothly and easily, supported by all services (Photo: Ali Khamaj)

Pilgrims Pray on Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches Peak

Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat on Tuesday at the climax of the hajj pilgrimage. From daybreak, thousands of white-robed worshippers recited…

Asharq Al Awsat (Makkah)
Gulf Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari and other officials are seen during his inspection tour. (SPA)

Saudi Joint Chiefs of Staff Director Inspects Armed Forces Preparations for Hajj

Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari, on behalf of Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad…

Gulf People inspect the wreckage of vehicles the day after a deadly train blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, 25 May 2026. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Train in Pakistan’s Balochistan

Saudi Arabia condemned on Monday the “heinous terrorist” attack targeting a train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign…

Gulf Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel visits the Ministry of Interior Field Hospital in Arafat on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Health Minister Visits Ministry of Interior Field Hospital in Arafat

Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel visited on Monday the Ministry of Interior Field Hospital in Arafat, where he reviewed the hospital’s readiness and…

Gulf  Muslim pilgrims offer evening prayers around the Kaaba, in the holy city of Makkah during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP)

Saudi Interior Ministry Announces Fine of up to SAR20,000 for Anyone Performing Hajj without Permit

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that a fine of up to SAR20,000 will be imposed on anyone found performing or attempting to perform Hajj…


Gulf The Saudi Crown Prince and the Swiss President meet in Jeddah (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince, Swiss President Discuss Cooperation between their Countries

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met in Jeddah on Thursday with Swiss President Guy Parmelin. They…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Gulf Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince, Japanese PM Discuss Regional Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call on Thursday from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met in Riyadh on Wednesday with his Dutch counterpart (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands Discuss Efforts to Maintain Security of Int’l Waterways

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has discussed with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen efforts to keep…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meets Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2026. (Amiri Diwan/Handout via Reuters)

Emir of Qatar, Syrian President Hold Talks on Regional Developments

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks in Doha on Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, focusing on regional and international…

Gulf The Saudi flag. Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat

Egyptian Prime Minister Meets with Saudi Ambassador to Egypt

Prime Minister of Egypt Dr. Mostafa Madbouly met Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Saleh bin Eid Al-Husseini at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf his assistance comes within the framework of the humanitarian and relief efforts provided by Saudi Arabia  - SPA

KSrelief Signs Cooperation Agreement for Economic Empowerment of Displaced Persons, Refugees, Host Community in Niger

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), via videoconference, on Monday signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah during his inspection tour on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Hajj Minister Inspects Readiness of Mina Camps Ahead of Hajj

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah inspected on Tuesday the readiness of the camps in Mina ahead of the Hajj, as part of field tours to assess…

Gulf Advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari. Asharq Al-Awsat

Qatar Warns Against Internationalizing Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed Al Ansari has said that any closure of the Strait of…

Asharq Al Awsat (Doha)
Gulf Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the symposium in Riyadh on Tuesday. (GCC)

Gulf Underscores Support for Lebanon’s Security, Stability

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed on Tuesday the council’s firm support for Lebanon and everything that can…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz meets with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi, Italian Defense Ministers Discuss Partnership, Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held talks in Jeddah on Tuesday with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto, reported the…

Gulf Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

Saudi Govt: Alternative Export Routes Have Bolstered Our Ability to Supply the World with Energy

The Saudi government stressed on Tuesday that the Kingdom’s decades-long investments in energy security and alternative export routes have bolstered its…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Gulf Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Mohammed bin Salman, Aoun Discuss Situation in Lebanon

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Tuesday a telephone call from Lebanese President Joseph…

Gulf Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince, Syrian President Discuss Bilateral Ties

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in Jeddah on Tuesday Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is…

Gulf A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Plot Targeting the UAE

Saudi Arabia condemned on Tuesday the terrorist plot targeting the national unity and stability of the United Arab Emirates. A Foreign Ministry statement…

Gulf This handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, (C-R) welcoming Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa upon his arrival in Jeddah, on April 21, 2026. (SPA)

Syrian President Arrives in Jeddah on Official Visit

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit. He was welcomed at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport by Deputy…

Gulf People walk past street stalls in front of a mosque in downtown Hargeisa. (AFP file)

MWL Condemns Israel’s Appointment of Envoy to Self-Proclaimed 'Somaliland'

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned Israel’s announcement of appointing a diplomatic envoy to the self-proclaimed "Somaliland." In a statement,…

Gulf  In this photo released by official website of the Iraqi Presidency Office, newly elected President Nizar Amidi inspects an honor guard during his ceremonial reception at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Iraqi Presidency Office via AP)

Saudi Leadership Congratulates Nizar Amidi on Election as President of Iraq

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Tuesday a cable of congratulations to President Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amidi on his…

Gulf Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met twice in Jeddah in less than a month. (AFP)

Pakistani Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Quartet Meetings Aim to Promote Regional Peace

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq praised close ties between his country and Saudi Arabia, highlighting recent four-party meetings, Saudi…

Ghazi al-Harthi (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (AFP)

Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with Kuwaiti, Omani Counterparts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks on Monday with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah…

Gulf  The photos and names of the detainees released by the State Security Department (SSD). (WAM)

UAE Dismantles Terrorist Organization

The UAE State Security Department (SSD) announced on Monday the dismantling of a terrorist organization and the arrest of its members, reported the country’s…

Gulf Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan meet in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)

Mohammed bin Salman, Burhan Discuss Developments in Sudan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks in Jeddah on Monday with Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional…

Gulf Photo by SPA

Saudi Permanent Representative to Arab League Meets with Palestinian Counterpart

Saudi Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Matar met in Cairo on Monday with Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia welcoming the Chinese President to the Kingdom - SPA

Saudi Crown Prince, Chinese President Discuss Regional Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinpin. At the outset of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Gulf Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA)

King of Bahrain Assigns Crown Prince to Hold to Account Those who ‘Betrayed the Nation’

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa declared on Sunday that the state “will proceed firmly” in addressing the consequences of the US-Israeli war on Iran,…