U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced in Riyadh that a preliminary agreement is in place between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on civilian nuclear cooperation. The partnership aims to develop Saudi Arabia’s commercial nuclear power sector, with significant progress expected this year. Wright also hailed Saudi investments in the U.S. and praised the hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan firmly rejected any proposal involving the forced displacement of Palestinians. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on the Gaza war, he stated, “Gaza’s residents are deprived of even the basic necessities for survival.” He emphasized that humanitarian aid must not be conditional on a ceasefire and urged the international community to work collectively to remove all barriers. The meeting also called for an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of Palestinian authority over East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.

According to CEO Engineer Ghazi Al-Shahrani, a total of 122,286,712 visitors gathered at Mecca’s Grand Mosque and Medina’s Prophet’s Mosque during Ramadan. Among them, 16,558,241 performed Umrah, while 92,132,169 worshippers visited Mecca’s Grand Mosque, and 30,154,543 visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Al-Shahrani extended Eid greetings and expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their service to pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia has officially confirmed that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday after sighting the Shawwal moon. With this confirmation, Saudi Muslims will observe 29 days of fasting this year. The announcement came after an official moon-sighting effort, with astronomers verifying the visibility based on lunar calculations.

US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential paths to end the war in Ukraine. This meeting could also include Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The choice of Saudi Arabia as the venue raises questions, as it is considered a neutral location, and the country is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin. The US sees an opportunity to strengthen relations between Israel, the US, and Saudi Arabia, adding further significance to the decision. Saudi Arabia’s neutral stance on the conflict makes it an attractive venue for this high-stakes summit.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a ban on taking children as companions for the 2025 Hajj season. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that this decision is to ensure the safety of children amidst the large crowds. Priority will be given to first-time pilgrims. Hajj pilgrims must verify their information, register companions, and request changes to their mahrams through the Nusuk app or online. The Saudi authorities have emphasized preparation before the sale of Hajj packages and have initiated the process through the Nusuk platform.

According to the Times of India, Saudi Arabia has suspended multiple-entry visas for 14 countries, including Bangladesh, effective from February 1. The affected countries are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. Citizens from these countries will only be eligible for a single-entry visa with a 30-day validity, except for workers, Hajj, and Umrah pilgrims. The decision comes in response to complaints that re-entry visa holders have violated rules, engaged in Hajj without proper authorization, failed to return after their visa expiration, and involved themselves in various criminal activities.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, a former Saudi ambassador to the United States, has strongly condemned Donald Trump’s recent comments on Gaza, warning that his proposed plans for control of the region amount to ethnic cleansing. He stated that forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza would lead to bloodshed and conflict. He urged Arab and Muslim nations, along with other global powers and Europe, to raise the issue at the United Nations to demonstrate global opposition to such an extermination plan. He further accused Trump of fully endorsing Israel’s stance, stating that the former U.S. president has aligned his position with that of recently resigned Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Saudi Arabia has strongly opposed Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians and allow the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that any attempt to expel Palestinians will not be accepted, and the country’s position on the Palestinian issue is non-negotiable. Saudi Arabia also stated that it will not normalize relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established, reiterating its firm stance on the matter.