French forward Karim Benzema has joined Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal on an 18-month free transfer after terminating his contract with Al-Ittihad. The club confirmed the move in an official statement on Monday. Local media reported that Benzema decided to leave after rejecting Al-Ittihad’s offer to extend his contract. His recent absence from two consecutive league matches had fueled speculation about his future.

Benzema enjoyed a successful spell with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad, leading the team to both the Saudi Pro League title and the King’s Cup last season, marking the club’s first domestic double. The 38-year-old striker joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 after 14 years with Real Madrid. In a message on social media platform X, he expressed pride in representing the club and gratitude for the experience.

This season, Benzema scored 16 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions for Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal currently tops the league table with 47 points, one point ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, while Al-Ittihad sits sixth with 34 points.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies due to shortcomings in their operations and service quality. The ministry announced the decision on Sunday, stating that the agencies failed to meet required performance standards following a periodic evaluation.

According to the ministry, the agencies were assessed for efficiency and service quality, and deficiencies were identified in both areas. Each agency has been given ten days to improve performance and correct the issues. The ministry described the move as a regulatory measure aimed at ensuring compliance with approved standards and allowing agencies to rectify their shortcomings.

The ministry further clarified that if the agencies meet the required conditions within the given timeframe, their contracts will be reinstated. It also assured that the suspension will not affect visas or existing bookings for Umrah pilgrims. Earlier evaluations had found that out of approximately 5,800 Umrah operators, 1,800 showed performance and service gaps.

A source close to the Saudi military confirmed that Turkey will not join the potential mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Speaking to AFP on Saturday, the source dismissed reports of a trilateral alliance involving Turkey as unfounded. The New Arab also cited the source as saying that the agreement with Pakistan is strictly bilateral. A Gulf official echoed this, noting that while Saudi Arabia maintains separate agreements with Turkey, the defense relationship with Pakistan will remain bilateral.

Earlier this month, a Turkish official had claimed that discussions were underway for Turkey to join a Saudi-Pakistan defense alliance, sparking speculation across the region. Analysts linked the rumors to heightened tensions following Israeli airstrikes in Doha targeting Hamas officials and an Iranian bombing of a U.S. airbase in Qatar. These incidents have intensified regional instability.

The Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement, announced last year, has drawn scrutiny over its potential nuclear dimension, given Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. The deal followed a deadly four-day conflict between Pakistan and India, during which over 70 people were killed.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the kingdom will not permit the use of its airspace or territory for any military operation against Iran. The statement came during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Saudi state news agency SPA on Tuesday, January 28, 2026. The crown prince emphasized that Saudi Arabia supports dialogue-based solutions to regional disputes and prioritizes diplomacy over conflict.

According to Iranian media, President Pezeshkian told the Saudi crown prince that Tehran welcomes any process under international law that helps avoid war. The United Arab Emirates had earlier announced a similar stance, refusing to allow its airspace or waters to be used for military actions against Iran. The developments come amid heightened regional tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a military armada was moving toward Iran, though he expressed hope it would not be used.

Human rights groups have alleged that thousands were killed in Iran’s recent protest crackdowns, calling it the worst since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, claims denied by Iranian authorities.

Saudi Arabia is significantly reducing the scope and size of its ambitious Neom megaproject following a year-long internal review. According to a Financial Times report cited on Sunday, the project’s cost has been cut and its design reworked. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now pursuing a smaller development plan due to delays, rising expenses, and technical challenges. The Neom project, launched in 2017 as part of the kingdom’s economic transformation plan, spans the Red Sea coast and includes the futuristic city concept known as “The Line,” which is now being redesigned and downsized.

Sources told the Financial Times that “The Line” may be converted into a conventional project using existing infrastructure, while Neom could evolve into a data center hub as Saudi Arabia seeks a stronger role in the global artificial intelligence sector. The review comes amid lower oil prices and a government cost-cutting drive, as the country prepares for major events such as Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Several subprojects, including the Trojena ski resort and the Oxagon industrial zone, are being scaled back or redesigned to align with Saudi Arabia’s current economic realities.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced the deportation of more than 14,000 foreign nationals following a week-long nationwide campaign targeting violations of residency, labor, and border laws. The operation, conducted from January 15 to 21, led to the detention of approximately 18,200 individuals across the country. Among them, 11,400 were accused of violating residency laws, around 4,000 of breaching border regulations, and nearly 2,800 of breaking labor laws.

Authorities also detained 1,762 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, about half of whom were Yemeni and more than half Ethiopian nationals. Another 46 individuals were caught trying to leave the country illegally, while 11 others were arrested for allegedly transporting, sheltering, or employing undocumented migrants. Legal proceedings are ongoing against more than 25,000 people, and many have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents.

The Interior Ministry warned that those aiding illegal entry, transport, or employment could face severe penalties, including long prison terms, heavy fines, confiscation of vehicles or property, and public disclosure of offenses.

Saudi Arabia has implemented a new law from January 2026 allowing foreigners to purchase houses and other properties in designated areas. Both foreign residents living in the kingdom and those residing abroad can now buy property, though ownership remains prohibited in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The government stated that foreigners outside Saudi Arabia will be limited to buying in Riyadh and Jeddah, with a detailed map of approved zones to be published by March.

Foreign residents can apply through an online portal using their residence permit (Iqama) number, while non-residents must first obtain a digital ID from a Saudi embassy in their home country before applying online. Property transactions will incur up to a 5% real estate tax. The law also imposes strict penalties for false information or anonymous purchases, including fines up to 10 million Saudi riyals and property confiscation.

Analysts cited in the report believe the reform could boost foreign investment in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector and accelerate development in selected areas of Riyadh and Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia has announced that it possesses mineral resources worth about $2.5 trillion, including rare earth elements such as dysprosium, terbium, neodymium, and praseodymium. The declaration came during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, where officials emphasized the country’s plan to expand its mining sector to reduce dependence on oil and strengthen geopolitical influence. The state-owned mining company Ma’aden also revealed plans to invest $110 billion in metals and mining over the next decade.

According to S&P Global, Saudi Arabia’s mineral exploration budget rose by 595 percent between 2021 and 2025, with faster licensing for domestic and international firms. Experts, however, cautioned that extraction and processing take years, with processing plants requiring three to five years to build, and sometimes more than 20 years. SAFE Minerals Center’s executive director Abigail Hunter noted that China remains far ahead of the United States in this sector due to decades of strategic investment and state-backed projects.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 identifies mining as a key pillar for economic diversification, and experts believe the country’s growing infrastructure could make it a regional hub for mineral processing.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke another record on Wednesday night as Al Nassr defeated Damac 2-1 in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese superstar scored in the 50th minute, marking his 116th goal for Al Nassr across all competitions. With this, he became the club’s highest-scoring foreign player, surpassing Abderrazak Hamdallah’s previous record of 115 goals set between 2018 and 2021.

Ronaldo, now 40, has played 131 matches for Al Nassr, averaging 0.89 goals per game and scoring once every 99 minutes. His tally includes six hat-tricks and 22 assists for teammates. In the overall list of Al Nassr’s top scorers, including Saudi players, Ronaldo currently ranks third behind Majed Abdullah with 259 goals and Mohammad Al-Sahlawi with 131. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now reached 960 career goals and is 40 goals away from the 1,000-goal milestone.

So far this season, Ronaldo has scored 16 goals in the Saudi Pro League, continuing his prolific form and extending his record-breaking career.

Saudi Arabia has sold a record $20 billion worth of bonds since the start of this year, marking the highest in the kingdom’s history and surpassing China in global debt issuance. According to Bloomberg data, the Saudi government directly raised $11.5 billion, while state-controlled firms such as Saudi Electricity, Saudi Telecom, Saudi National Bank, and Riyad Bank borrowed an additional $8.8 billion. These companies, though government-owned, are listed on the Tadawul stock exchange.

Analysts view the surge in borrowing as a reflection of the country’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the oil-dependent economy. The trend indicates that debt pressure is now extending beyond the government to state-owned enterprises. Saudi Arabia became the largest international debt issuer among emerging markets in 2024, a pattern expected to continue through 2026.

Financial Times reported that Saudi banks are increasingly turning to foreign loans. Despite lower oil prices, the kingdom remains relatively stable due to low production costs and substantial foreign currency reserves.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced major labor market reforms requiring at least 60 percent Saudi nationals in 18 marketing and sales-related professions. The directive, reported by Gulf News, aims to expand local participation and reduce unemployment. Companies with three or more employees must comply within three months, and Saudi workers in these roles will receive a minimum monthly salary of 5,500 riyals.

The affected professions include marketing and advertising managers, public relations officers, graphic designers, photographers, sales managers, retail and wholesale representatives, and IT and telecommunications sales specialists. Firms failing to meet the localization target after the grace period will face fines and administrative penalties.

The initiative aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil and create more jobs for young Saudis. However, the policy is expected to significantly impact expatriate workers, particularly from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, who have long dominated Saudi Arabia’s private marketing and sales sectors.

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining company Ma’aden has extracted a total of 7.8 million ounces, equivalent to 221,000 kilograms, of gold from four locations across the country. The extraction took place at Mansourah Massarah, Uruk 20/21, Umm al-Salam, and Wadi al-Jawaa. According to the company, Mansourah Massarah yielded 3 million ounces, Uruk 20/21 and Umm al-Salam produced 1.607 million ounces, and Wadi al-Jawaa contributed 3.08 million ounces.

Ma’aden’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Wilt stated that this achievement strengthens Saudi Arabia’s global position as a leading gold producer. He attributed the success to the company’s long-term strategic plan, emphasizing that the results demonstrate its effectiveness in practice.

The report, citing Gulf News, suggests that the large-scale extraction will enhance Saudi Arabia’s mineral reserves and accelerate Ma’aden’s operations as a world-class gold producer.

Saudi Arabia has launched a diplomatic initiative with Qatar and Oman aimed at preventing a potential US military attack on Iran. The move follows Washington’s call for its Gulf allies to prepare for possible conflict, which has raised deep concern across regional capitals. Riyadh fears that any escalation could severely damage its economy and provoke domestic unrest, particularly if Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were to be killed in such an attack.

Gulf states are also worried about the security of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway crucial to global energy transport. About one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments pass through this strait, which separates Iran from its Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman have warned the White House that any attempt to overthrow Iran’s government could destabilize oil markets and ultimately harm the US economy.

According to reports cited from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Riyadh has assured Tehran it will not participate in any conflict and has refused to allow US forces to use its airspace for attacks. Gulf nations have also cautioned Washington against pursuing regime change in Tehran, warning it could trigger long-term regional instability.

Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military attack. Two sources close to the Saudi government told AFP on Wednesday that the message was delivered as the United States threatens possible military action against Tehran. Saudi media outlet Al Arabiya also reported the development.

According to the sources, Riyadh clarified its stance amid warnings that Washington might take military steps in response to Iran’s harsh crackdown on ongoing protests. In reaction, Tehran has warned that any new attack would prompt it to target US military bases and naval assets. A source close to the Saudi military said the kingdom directly told Tehran it would not participate in any military operation against Iran.

Analysts noted that the presence of significant US military assets across the Gulf region, including in Saudi Arabia, makes the situation more sensitive amid rising tensions.

Al Nassr began the new year with disappointment as their ten-match winning streak in the Saudi Pro League came to an end. The team, featuring Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, lost 3-2 to Al Ahli. English forward Tony Evans scored twice for Al Ahli, while Merih Demiral added another goal. Abdullah Al-Amri netted both goals for Al Nassr in a match where Ronaldo remained largely ineffective.

The game started with Tony scoring in the seventh minute, followed by a second goal in the 20th minute after a long pass from his own half. Al Nassr fought back through Al-Amri, who scored from distance in the 30th minute and then equalized with a header just before halftime. In the second half, Al Ahli regained control, and Demiral’s strike in the 53rd minute sealed the win.

This defeat marked Al Nassr’s first loss in eleven league matches, leaving them with 31 points from ten wins and one draw before this match.