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Pilgrims will perform the tawaf - walking seven times around the Kaaba

Million-plus pilgrims begin hajj under blazing sun

More than a million pilgrims have joined Islam's most important rite under a beating sun, as the hajj kicked off with the Saudi hosts scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat.

World • 04 Jun

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has pushed a series of reforms in the country

Saudi Arabia denies report alcohol ban will be lifted

An official in Saudi Arabia has denied reports that the country, the birthplace of Islam, would lift its 73-year-old ban on alcohol, which is prohibited for Muslims.

News Lens • 26 May

Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is 'fully committed to constructive dialogue' (file image)

Zelensky, Rubio arrive in Saudi for ceasefire talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chief US diplomat Marco Rubio have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of ceasefire talks as Ukraine's proposal for a partial truce raised hopes of a breakthrough after three years of war.

Ukraine • 10 Mar

The "Saudi At Davos" building overlooks the congress centre hosting the WEF talks where world leaders and entrepreneurs hold their annual Davos talkfest

Saudis showcase charm offensive in Davos

Two buildings branded "Saudi House" and "Saudi At Davos" stand out on the chic main street of the Swiss Alpine village hosting the World Economic Forum, showcasing the kingdom's growing presence at major international events.

Business • 24 Jan

The Saudi government directly holds nearly 81.5% of Aramco and relies heavily on the company's payouts

Aramco's Q2 profit slips 3% on lower crude output

Oil giant Saudi Aramco has today reported a 3.4% fall in second-quarter profit on lower crude volumes and softer refining margins.

Business • 06 Aug 24

Departing pilgrims waiting along a road in the city of Mecca

Saudi 'state did not fail' after hundreds die during hajj

A senior official in Saudi Arabia has defended the management of the hajj pilgrimage after various countries reported more than 1,100 deaths, many attributed to high heat.

World • 21 Jun 24

Pilgrims pictured praying during the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia where extreme heat has seen hundreds of people die

Hajj death toll from extreme heat passes 1,000

The death toll from this year's hajj has exceeded 1,000, a tally has shown, with more than half of them unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia.

World • 20 Jun 24

The Saudi government remains overwhelmingly Aramco's biggest shareholder, with a 90% stake

Saudi Arabia plans Aramco share sale as soon as June

Saudi Arabia is planning a multi-billion-dollar share sale in energy giant Aramco as soon as June in what would be one of the region's biggest stock deals, two people familiar with the matter said.

Business • 27 May 24

World oil prices are steady today amid political uncertainty in major producing countries

Oil steadies after death of Iran's president

Oil prices were stable today as the market awaited further clues on the likely path of US interest rates in the wake of cautious comments from US Federal Reserve officials, even as inflation shows signs of cooling.

Business • 20 May 24

Saudi Arabia is set to host a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in April

Saudi Arabia to host World Economic Forum meeting

Saudi Arabia will host a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in April, economy minister Faisal Alibrahim said, as it aims to boost the global profile of the kingdom and its capital Riyadh.

Business • 19 Jan 24

Oil prices rebounded today after Brent and WTI futures each lost around 6% last week

Oil rises by 1% as Saudi Arabia, Russia stick to cuts

Oil prices rose today after top exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to extra voluntary oil supply cuts until the end of the year.

Business • 06 Nov 23

Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have invited six nations to join the bloc

BRICS invites six nations to join developing world bloc

BRICS leaders have today announced the admission of six new countries from next year as the club of large and populous emerging economies seeks to reshape the global order.

Business • 24 Aug 23

Saudi Arabia said it would extend its voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day (bpd) for another month to include August

Saudi Arabia and Russia deepen oil cuts

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, today deepened oil cuts, sending prices higher despite concerns over a global economic slowdown and possible further interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserve.

Business • 03 Jul 23

More than two million people are expected in Mecca

Millions head to Mecca for huge hajj in scorching heat

Enormous crowds of worshippers thronged Mecca, Islam's holiest city, for the biggest hajj pilgrimage in years, with more than two million expected to brave the scorching Saudi Arabian heat.

World • 23 Jun 23

Prices fell earlier in the session on weak Chinese economic data

Oil prices edge higher as Saudi cut outweighs weak data

Oil prices climbed over 1% today as Saudi Arabia's surprise weekend pledge to deepen output cuts outweighed weak Chinese export data and rising US fuel stocks.

Business • 07 Jun 23

Oil prices edged lower early today, coming off yesterday's gains

Oil falls as economic backdrop outweighs Saudi cut

Oil prices tumbled by more than $1 a barrel, retreating from a strong rally in the previous session as worries over global economic growth outweighed Saudi Arabia's pledge to deepen output cuts.

Business • 06 Jun 23

Saudi Arabia is the only member of OPEC+ with sufficient spare capacity and storage to be able to easily reduce and increase output

Saudi Arabia pledges big cuts to oil output in July

Saudi Arabia will make a deep cut to its output in July on top of a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply into 2024 as the group seeks to boost flagging oil prices.

World • 05 Jun 23

Saudi Aramco's Q1 profit falls 19% to $31.9 billion

Saudi oil giant Aramco has today posted first-quarter net profit of 119.54 billion riyals ($31.88 billion), a fall of about 19% from the previous year.

Business • 09 May 23

Aramco has reported a record annual net profit of $161.1 billion for 2022

Saudi Aramco reports record 2022 profit of $161 billion

Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco yesterday reported a record annual net profit of $161.1 billion for 2022, up 46% from the previous year on higher energy prices, increased volumes sold and improved margins for refined products.

Business • 13 Mar 23

The hajj pilgrimage is scheduled for June

Saudi Arabia removing restrictions for hajj pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia will not impose limits on the number of pilgrims for this year's hajj, a Saudi minister has said, after three years of restrictions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asia • 09 Jan 23

Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in October 2018 by Saudi agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul

US immunity for Saudi prince in Khashoggi lawsuit

The Biden administration has ruled that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has immunity from a lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

World • 18 Nov 22

Riyadh sentenced the US citizen of Saudi origin to 16 years in prison

US confirms Saudi detention of American over tweets

The United States said today it was raising with Saudi Arabia a prison sentence handed to a US citizen over tweets critical of the kingdom. It is another source of tension between the historic allies.

World • 18 Oct 22

Saudi Arabia (capital Riyadh is pictured here) jailed Salma Al-Shehab for 34 years earlier this month

US raises concerns with Saudi Arabia over sentencing

The United States has raised "significant concerns" with Saudi Arabia over a 34-year prison sentence imposed on women's rights activist Salma al-Shehab, the US State Department said.

World • 22 Aug 22

Saudi Arabia (capital Riyadh is pictured here) jailed Salma Al-Shehab for 34 years

UN asks Saudi Arabia to free woman jailed over tweets

The United Nations voiced outrage today at a Saudi court decision to sentence a woman to 34 years behind bars for tweets critical of the government, demanding she be released.

World • 19 Aug 22

The dinner hosted by Emmanuel Macron was the latest step in the diplomatic rehabilitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), the de-facto leader of the Saudi kingdom

Macron, bin Salman to 'ease effects' of Ukraine war

French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to work "to ease the effects" of the war in Ukraine during talks in Paris, the French presidency has said.

World • 29 Jul 22