Muslim pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat on Thursday during the high point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the day.

More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors.

Saudi Arabia’s defense minister delivered a blunt message to Iranian officials in Tehran last month: Take US President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously, because it presents a way to avoid the risk of war with Israel.

A Libyan pilgrim, Amer Al Mahdi Mansour Al Gaddafi, was stopped at the airport due to a flagged surname and missed his Hajj flight.

The 40-year-old Portuguese forward joined Al Nassr in 2022 from Manchester United and his contract with the Saudi club ends this summer.

The World Bank says it has cleared Syria's $15.5 million in outstanding debt after receiving payments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, making the country eligible for millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and budget support.

Donald Trump praised Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler in a gushing manner on Tuesday. He called him "an incredible guy" and "a great guy", and did not mention the human rights situation within the country.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to start a four-day swing through the Gulf region, focusing more on economic deals than security crises ranging from war in Gaza to the threat of escalation over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have taken the lead in mediating between India and Pakistan following recent drone strikes.

Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Jeddah, held during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, drew widespread attention for its proximity to Makkah.

New policies mark major changes to Saudi Arabia's VAT regime, with tourism and business compliance in focus.

The visa suspension—confirmed by diplomatic and official sources—is expected to remain in effect until mid-June.