Latest news with #PrinceMohammed
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Lavender Carpet for Trump
No, don't call it purple. When President Trump disembarked from Air Force One in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, he stepped onto the rich lavender-colored carpet unfurled before him, just one feature of the lavish welcome extended to the visiting American leader on the first day of his Gulf tour. Along with a fighter-jet escort in the air and riders on Arabian horses on the ground, the lavender carpet is one of the distinctive and symbolic Saudi protocols for greeting high-profile dignitaries. Saudi Arabia swapped red carpets for lavender in 2021, as the ruling royal family sought to define its own protocols and celebrate national identity, according to a report by the official Saudi Press Agency published at the time. 'Lavender in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is associated with blossoming wildflowers that carpet the kingdom's desert landscapes in the spring and is a symbol of Saudi generosity,' the report said. In spring, Saudi Arabia's rugged dunes are covered in lavender, basil and Germander, a flowering shrub that grows across the Arabian Peninsula, also known by the Arabic name 'Aihan.' The color of the carpet is also a nod to how the blooms transform an otherwise harsh desert landscape, the report said, symbolizing the growth that Prince Mohammed has promised to generate through his blueprint to diversify the economy of the oil-dependent kingdom, called 'Vision 2030.' The carpet features a border of the traditional Al Sadu textile design created by Bedouin women. The geometric patterns, tightly woven on a hand loom, were included on a list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity compiled by the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO, in 2020. Saudi Arabia first rolled out a lavender carpet in 2021, for Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, a key Saudi partner in the Gulf, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The carpet is also used for state receptions and other official occasions.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Saudi crown prince welcomes Trump to kingdom as US leader begins 4-day Middle East tour
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump opened his four-day Middle East trip on Tuesday by paying a visit to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for talks on U.S. efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more. Prince Mohammed warmly greeted Trump as he stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital and kicked off his Middle East tour. The two leaders then retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport, where Trump and his aides were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun-belts. The pomp began before Trump even landed. Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom's capital. Trump and Prince Mohammed also took part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides in an ornate room with blue accents and massive crystal chandeliers. As he greeted business titans with Trump by his side, Prince Mohammed was animated and smiling. It was a stark contrast to his awkward fist bump with then-President Joe Biden, who looked to avoid being seen on camera shaking hands with the prince during a 2022 visit to the kingdom. Biden had decided to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia as he looked to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe. At the time, Prince Mohammed's reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives — including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side. Later, the crown prince will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference. 'When Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happen — more often than not, great things happen,' Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said. Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC+ nations have already helped their cause with Trump early in his second term by stepping up oil production. Trump sees cheap energy as a key component to lowering costs and stemming inflation for Americans. The Republican president has also made the case that lower oil prices will hasten an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. But Saudi Arabia's economy remains heavily dependent on oil, and the kingdom needs a fiscal break-even oil price of $96 to $98 a barrel to balance its budget. It's questionable how long OPEC+, of which Saudi Arabia is the leading member, is willing to keep production elevated. The price of a barrel of Brent crude closed Monday at $64.77. 'One of the challenges for the Gulf states of lower oil prices is it doesn't necessarily imperil economic diversification programs, but it certainly makes them harder,' said Jon Alterman, a senior Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Trump picked the kingdom for his first stop, because it has pledged to make big investments in the U.S., but Trump ended up traveling to Italy last month for Pope Francis' funeral. Riyadh was the first overseas stop of his first term. The three countries on the president's itinerary — Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are all places where the Trump Organization, run by Trump's two elder sons, is developing major real estate projects. They include a high-rise tower in Jeddah, a luxury hotel in Dubai and a golf course and villa complex in Qatar. Trump is trying to demonstrate that his transactional strategy for international politics is paying dividends as he faces criticism from Democrats who say his global tariff war and approach to Russia's war on Ukraine are isolating the United States from allies. He's expected to announce deals with the three wealthy countries that will touch on artificial intelligence, expanding energy cooperation and perhaps new arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The administration earlier this month announced initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia's fighter jets. But Trump arrived in the Middle East at a moment when his top regional allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, are far from neatly aligned with his approach. Before the trip, Trump announced that Washington was halting a nearly two-month U.S. airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthis, saying the Iran-backed rebels have pledged to stop attacking ships along a vital global trade route. The administration didn't notify Israel — which the Houthis continue to target — of the agreement before Trump publicly announced it. It was the latest example of Trump leaving the Israelis in the dark about his administration's negotiations with common adversaries. In March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't notified by the administration until after talks began with Hamas about the war in Gaza. And Netanyahu found out about the ongoing U.S. nuclear talks with Iran only when Trump announced them during an Oval Office visit by the Israeli leader last month. 'Israel will defend itself by itself,' Netanyahu said last week following Trump's Houthi truce announcement. 'If others join us — our American friends — all the better.' William Wechsler, senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, said Trump's decision to skip Israel on his first Middle East visit is remarkable. 'The main message coming out of this, at least as the itinerary stands today, is that the governments of the Gulf … are in fact stronger friends to President Trump than the current government of Israel at this moment,' Wechsler said. Trump, meanwhile, hopes to restart his first-term effort to normalize relations between the Middle East's major powers, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Trump's Abraham Accords effort led to Sudan, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco agreeing to normalize relations with Israel. But Riyadh has made clear that in exchange for normalization it wants U.S. security guarantees, assistance with the kingdom's nuclear program and progress on a pathway to Palestinian statehood. There seems to be scant hope for making headway on a Palestinian state with the Israel-Hamas war raging and the Israelis threatening to flatten and occupy Gaza. Prince Mohammed last week notably hosted Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in Jeddah on the official's first foreign visit since assuming office in April. Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the crown prince appeared to be subtly signaling to Trump that the kingdom needs to see progress on Palestinian statehood for the Saudis to begin seriously moving on a normalization deal with the Israelis. 'Knowing how the Saudis telegraph their intentions, that's a preemptive, 'Don't even think of asking us to show any goodwill toward normalization,'' Abdul-Hussain said. ___ This story has been corrected to show the Palestinian vice president's name is al-Sheikh, not Sheikh, and he is an official, not a sheikh. ___ Madhani reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Leaders
01-05-2025
- Leaders
Hajj 2025: First Batch of Thai Pilgrims Arrives at Madinah
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the first flight of Thai pilgrims at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Upon their arrival at the airport, the Passports Department has facilitated their entry procedures and provided them with seamless services. Thai Pilgrims The department emphasized that it has been harnessing all its capabilities to facilitate entry procedures for pilgrims by supporting the international air, land and sea port platforms with the latest technical devices operated by experts and qualified teams. Saudi Arabia has been ramping up preparations for Hajj 2025 with major infrastructure and service upgrades, according to Gulf News. The Central Hajj Committee has held a meeting to evaluate the readiness of facilities and services for pilgrims during Ramadan and the upcoming Hajj season. Thai Pilgrims In coordination with 43 government agencies, the plan aims to foster safety, streamline logistics, and provide efficient crisis management during 2025 season. Crucially, Kidana Company showcased its development projects for Hajj 2025 during the meeting. The company seeks to provide pilgrims with seamless services through a series of advanced projects, as follows: Shading and cooling pedestrian pathways at the holy sites of Mina and Arafat A heat mitigation project around Namirah Mosque The installation of two-story toilet complexes to accommodate growing pilgrim numbers Thai Pilgrims Furthermore, the meeting discussed various plans designed to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims, as follows: Replacing concrete stairs with electric escalators in elevated areas Increasing tree planting and vegetation cover at Jabal Al Rahmah Adding more pressure boxes in Mina to boost infrastructure resilience Thai Pilgrims Related Topics: Hajj 2025: First Batch of Malaysian Pilgrims Heads to Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Urges Pilgrims to Save Water during Ramadan Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia Expects 179,000 Pakistani Pilgrims Short link : Post Views: 66 Related Stories
Saudi Gazette
29-04-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia receives first Hajj 2025 pilgrims from multiple countries
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH/MADINAH — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday received the first groups of pilgrims arriving to perform Hajj 2025, including those traveling under the "Makkah Route" initiative, as flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Malaysia landed in Jeddah and Madinah. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah welcomed a flight carrying 396 Bangladeshi pilgrims from Dhaka, received by Minister of Transport and Logistics, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser. The flight was among several scheduled arrivals through Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Al-Jasser noted that six major airports have been designated to serve pilgrims this Hajj season: King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah), Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah), Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport (Yanbu), Taif International Airport, King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), and King Fahd International Airport (Dammam). Madinah also received several flights under the 'Makkah Route' initiative. These included arrivals from Islamabad, Pakistan, Hyderabad, India (carrying 262 pilgrims), and Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThe 'Makkah Route' initiative aims to streamline the Hajj journey by providing pre-departure visa issuance, customs, and immigration procedures at the airport of origin. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah, with their luggage delivered separately through coordinated partner agencies.
Trade Arabia
10-02-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Qiddiya picks Deloitte to implement guest management system
Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), the master developer of Qiddiya City - Saudi Arabia's future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture - has announced a strategic partnership with Deloitte to implement a cutting-edge Dynamic Guest Management System that will revolutionize guest experiences across its world-class attractions. Powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365, Adobe, and Sprinklr, this system will seamlessly integrate and enhance customer relationship management (CRM), marketing automation, and B2B engagement, creating a more tailored and dynamic interaction across Qiddiya City's key attractions, said a statement from QIC. These include Six Flags Qiddiya City, Aquarabia water theme park, Speed Park Track, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, and the Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN). The partnership aims to meet the evolving needs of guests by providing a seamless and personalised experience throughout their visit to Qiddiya City. The Dynamic Guest Management System will comprehensively address all aspects of guest management, positioning Qiddiya City as a leader in innovative guest experiences, it stated. Deloitte's expertise in digital transformation and CRM solutions will be pivotal in the successful implementation of this project. The collaboration will not only improve operational efficiency but also enable Qiddiya City to create advanced experiences that exceed visitors' expectations. Abdulrahman AlAli, Chief Information Technology Officer of QIC said: "We are thrilled to partner with Deloitte to enhance our guest management capabilities. This collaboration will allow us to deliver an unparalleled experience for our guests, ensuring that every visit is memorable and personalised." Deloitte Consulting Middle East CEO Rashid Bashir expressed delight at partnership with Qiddiya Investment Company in implementing this state-of-the-art Dynamic Guest Management System.
