Ties between China and West Asian nations continue to grow stronger as Arab leaders express their support for China and call for greater cooperation with the world's second largest economy. During the Arab-China summit in Riyadh, from oil market to climate change, China and the Arab nations signed several memorandums.

China-Arab ties hit new milestone; Saudi hosts China-Arab leaders' meet

The Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Saudi Arabia where the Chinese Premier met with the Gulf leaders in Riyadh. In the first of the two milestone Arab summits that are showcasing Saudi Arabia's crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a sparring leader in the Middle East and also a key partner for the global powers.

Saudi Arabia leans closer to China; China-GCC summit kicks off in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has signed an MoU with Huawei. The deal entails building high-tech complexes in Saudi cities. Will China now have access to American Defence technology? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Saudi Arabia signs a deal with Huawei

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's grand welcome for Chinese President Xi's Jinping and only a fist bump for U.S. President Joe Biden. Ghadi Francis decodes Xi's Riyadh visit in this week's The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Saudi Arabia

After a royal welcome, Chinese President Xi Jinping began his official meetings with the Saudi Arabian delegation. China hopes to expand ties with Gulf states during this "historic visit." Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

WION Fineprint | China and Saudi Arabia expand ties

A new axis is in the making between China, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Riyadh, Beijing have signed 34 agreements. Has India become collateral damage? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: A new axis between China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

An Israeli reporter claimed that Saudi Arabia wants to normalise its ties with the state of Israel. Although, the move will take time and interestingly the reporters claimed that the move is start to the US Saudi relations and not connected to state of Israel or to the Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia seeks better ties with Israel; Riyadh has some conditions for normalisation

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the long-awaited visit to its regional ally, where he is set to meet nearly 30 heads of state and business leaders in the capital city, Riyadh. Notably, the timing for this visit has been at the forefront of the discussions in the west, since it comes at a “delicate time” for the relations between Saudi Arabia’s strategic ally the United States, said analysts.&nbsp;

For this visit, the Saudis have rolled out the red carpet while Xi will be welcomed amid fanfare with several reports comparing it to the grand welcome former US President Donald Trump received, in contrast to the incumbent US President Joe Biden’s visit, earlier this year.&nbsp;

Notably, Biden’s visit to Jeddah was marked by an awkward fist-bump from an unsmiling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s greeting him. Furthermore, the US president who had arrived in Saudi Arabia to seek reassurances over global oil prices left empty-handed after the kingdom had refused to lower prices as well as announced a limited increase in oil production.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-president-xi-jinping-set-to-visit-saudi-arabia-on-wednesday-540687">Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Riyadh on Wednesday, will meet Saudi and Arab leaders</a>

However, months later they also went on to announce that it is cutting down its oil production, which created a further rift in the ties between the two countries. OPEC+ slashed its output by two million barrels a day in a bid to “stabilise” prices despite Washington’s heavy campaigning against it.&nbsp;

Furthermore, media reports suggest that this visit will also include a China-Arab summit and a China-Gulf Cooperation Council conference, where the summit is set to witness at least 14 Arab heads of state and has also been described as a “milestone” in China-Arab relations, said a report by CNN citing a diplomatic source.&nbsp;

The bilateral summit will be chaired by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and will also be attended by the kingdom's de facto ruler MBS, reported the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).&nbsp;

A report by Bloomberg citing two people briefed on the plans said that energy and infrastructure deals will be at the top of the agenda during Xi’s visit. This comes amid reports of the two countries planning to sign agreements worth at least $30 billion.&nbsp;

“Riyadh is working according to strategic calculations that it must accommodate Beijing, as it is now an indispensable economic partner,” said the head of Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group, Ayham Kamel to Reuters, in the context of the China-Arab summit.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-becomes-chinas-top-crude-oil-supplier-again-as-russian-imports-fall-464464">Saudi Arabia becomes China's top crude oil supplier again as Russian imports fall</a>

However, Kamel also noted that “MBS is certainly not pursuing this out of spite,” but also that there is a certain risk in expanding ties with China and which could potentially create a further rift in the US-Saudi relationship. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s relations with China have also deepened in the economic context including Beijing’s potentially investing in Riyadh’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco.

In 2021, the kingdom’s exports to China exceeded $50 billion which accounts for more than 18 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s total exports. However, this is not just limited to Saudi Arabia as more Gulf states are seemingly moving toward deepening ties with China and Russia and the war in Ukraine does not appear to affect their relations with Moscow.&nbsp;

&nbsp;A Saudi analyst familiar with its leadership’s thinking, Ali Shihabi, told CNN, that Saudi is not indifferent to the US and it continues to remain a key partner. He added, “But the Kingdom has learned the hard way that the US cannot be relied on consistently for support.” Therefore, the leadership a few years ago began to develop multiple key relations in an “increasingly multipolar world” which is irreversible.&nbsp;

This remark could be in reference to Washington’s lack of response when the Shia militia attacked Saudi Arabia’s main refinery. While the US’s security presence, rather the lack thereof amid growing threats from Iran and its armed Yemeni proxies in the region has left the Middle East nations bitter. On the other hand, Riyadh’s human rights record has emerged as an issue, particularly after the alleged assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-joe-bidens-govt-grants-legal-immunity-to-mohammed-bin-salman-541000">US: Joe Biden's govt grants legal immunity to Mohammed bin Salman</a>

During his trip to Saudi Arabia, US president Biden had also vowed, “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran.” However, an official document titled “Report on Sino-Arab Cooperation in a New Era”, outlining Beijing’s policies in the region was released ahead of Xi’s visit to the kingdom said, “China has always believed that there is no such thing as a ‘power vacuum’ in the Middle East and that the people of the Middle East are the masters of the future and destiny of the region.”&nbsp;

Furthermore, the report also highlighted that China’s strategic focus in the Middle East remains on trade and economic cooperation and that it “upheld justice” on the region's security issues. “That message will be very clear when this visit gets under way. The Chinese do not lecture and they don’t disrespect. They know how to do business,” said a senior Saudi official to the Guardian.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-president-xi-jinping-to-meet-saudi-arabias-crown-prince-540797">Chinese President XI Jinping to meet Saudi Arabia's Crown prince</a>

“The Americans on the other hand have wanted us to choose sides. We will not,” the official added. Meanwhile, the US appears to be unsettled by what it perceives as China and Saudi Arabia’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine due to Moscow selling Beijing its discounted oil amid Western sanctions.&nbsp;

In the Indian context, one of the long-term implications of Xi's visit to the kingdom could potentially be the Chinese infrastructure being built closer to India, as analysts say that although these are civil projects the worry is Beijing’s growing influence in regions in New Delhi.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-chief-expresses-concern-over-chinas-bri-lauds-ties-with-nepal-and-bangladesh-363263">Indian army chief expresses concern over China's BRI, lauds ties with Nepal and Bangladesh</a>

“Clearly they are coming closer and closer to India and that is extremely worrying given its adversarial, hostile relations with China,” said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, director for the Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at New Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation, to the Voice of America (VOA), last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the long-awaited visit to its regional ally, where he is set to meet nearly 30 heads of state and business leaders in the capital city, Riyadh.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the long-awaited visit to its regional ally, where he is set to meet nearly 30 heads of state and business leaders in the capital city, Riyadh. Notably, the timing for this visit has been at the forefront of the discussions in the west, since it comes at a “delicate time” for the relations between Saudi Arabia’s strategic ally the United States, said analysts. For this visit, the Saudis have rolled out the red carpet while Xi will be welcomed amid fanfare with several reports comparing it to the grand welcome former US President Donald Trump received, in contrast to the incumbent US President Joe Biden’s visit, earlier this year. Notably, Biden’s visit to Jeddah was marked by an awkward fist-bump from an unsmiling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s greeting him. Furthermore, the US president who had arrived in Saudi Arabia to seek reassurances over global oil prices left empty-handed after the kingdom had refused to lower prices as well as announced a limited increase in oil production. ALSO READ | Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Riyadh on Wednesday, will meet Saudi and Arab leaders However, months later they also went on to announce that it is cutting down its oil production, which created a further rift in the ties between the two countries. OPEC+ slashed its output by two million barrels a day in a bid to “stabilise” prices despite Washington’s heavy campaigning against it. Furthermore, media reports suggest that this visit will also include a China-Arab summit and a China-Gulf Cooperation Council conference, where the summit is set to witness at least 14 Arab heads of state and has also been described as a “milestone” in China-Arab relations, said a report by CNN citing a diplomatic source. The bilateral summit will be chaired by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and will also be attended by the kingdom's de facto ruler MBS, reported the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). A report by Bloomberg citing two people briefed on the plans said that energy and infrastructure deals will be at the top of the agenda during Xi’s visit. This comes amid reports of the two countries planning to sign agreements worth at least $30 billion. “Riyadh is working according to strategic calculations that it must accommodate Beijing, as it is now an indispensable economic partner,” said the head of Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group, Ayham Kamel to Reuters, in the context of the China-Arab summit. ALSO WATCH | Saudi Arabia becomes China's top crude oil supplier again as Russian imports fall However, Kamel also noted that “MBS is certainly not pursuing this out of spite,” but also that there is a certain risk in expanding ties with China and which could potentially create a further rift in the US-Saudi relationship. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s relations with China have also deepened in the economic context including Beijing’s potentially investing in Riyadh’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco. In 2021, the kingdom’s exports to China exceeded $50 billion which accounts for more than 18 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s total exports. However, this is not just limited to Saudi Arabia as more Gulf states are seemingly moving toward deepening ties with China and Russia and the war in Ukraine does not appear to affect their relations with Moscow. A Saudi analyst familiar with its leadership’s thinking, Ali Shihabi, told CNN, that Saudi is not indifferent to the US and it continues to remain a key partner. He added, “But the Kingdom has learned the hard way that the US cannot be relied on consistently for support.” Therefore, the leadership a few years ago began to develop multiple key relations in an “increasingly multipolar world” which is irreversible. This remark could be in reference to Washington’s lack of response when the Shia militia attacked Saudi Arabia’s main refinery. While the US’s security presence, rather the lack thereof amid growing threats from Iran and its armed Yemeni proxies in the region has left the Middle East nations bitter. On the other hand, Riyadh’s human rights record has emerged as an issue, particularly after the alleged assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. ALSO WATCH | US: Joe Biden's govt grants legal immunity to Mohammed bin Salman During his trip to Saudi Arabia, US president Biden had also vowed, “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran.” However, an official document titled “Report on Sino-Arab Cooperation in a New Era”, outlining Beijing’s policies in the region was released ahead of Xi’s visit to the kingdom said, “China has always believed that there is no such thing as a ‘power vacuum’ in the Middle East and that the people of the Middle East are the masters of the future and destiny of the region.” Furthermore, the report also highlighted that China’s strategic focus in the Middle East remains on trade and economic cooperation and that it “upheld justice” on the region's security issues. “That message will be very clear when this visit gets under way. The Chinese do not lecture and they don’t disrespect. They know how to do business,” said a senior Saudi official to the Guardian. ALSO WATCH | Chinese President XI Jinping to meet Saudi Arabia's Crown prince “The Americans on the other hand have wanted us to choose sides. We will not,” the official added. Meanwhile, the US appears to be unsettled by what it perceives as China and Saudi Arabia’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine due to Moscow selling Beijing its discounted oil amid Western sanctions. In the Indian context, one of the long-term implications of Xi's visit to the kingdom could potentially be the Chinese infrastructure being built closer to India, as analysts say that although these are civil projects the worry is Beijing’s growing influence in regions in New Delhi. ALSO READ | Indian army chief expresses concern over China's BRI, lauds ties with Nepal and Bangladesh “Clearly they are coming closer and closer to India and that is extremely worrying given its adversarial, hostile relations with China,” said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, director for the Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at New Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation, to the Voice of America (VOA), last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: What does Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia mean for its relations with the US?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia. Xi will be attending three summits, signing agreements worth $29Bn. Is America's oil ally slipping into China's embrace? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas | Xi Jinping arrives in Saudi Arabia: Does the visit mark a failure of American oil diplomacy?

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping began a visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit has been touted by Beijing as the nation's biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world, however, as per the US, it serves as an example of Chinese attempts to exert influence.

The meeting between Saudi Arabia and China takes place at a time when relations between the Kingdom and the US are strained as a result of US criticism and Saudi support of OPEC+ oil output limitations.

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According to John Kirby, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, "We are mindful of the influence that China is trying to grow around the world."

According to a Reuters report quoting Saudi state news agency SPA, Chinese and Saudi companies inked 34 agreements on Wednesday to invest in green energy, information technology, cloud services, transportation, construction, and other industries.&nbsp;

While the value of the agreements was not specified, a previous report stated that the two countries will sign agreements worth $30 billion.

According to Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, during his visit Xi will hold bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-does-xi-jinpings-visit-to-saudi-arabia-mean-for-its-relations-with-the-us-541031">Explained: What does Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia mean for its relations with the US?</a>

Riyadh will then host a meeting with Arab leaders and a larger gathering of Gulf Arab governments that will mark "an epoch-making milestone in the history of the development of China-Arab relations."

Saudi Arabia is China's biggest oil supplier, and Xi's visit comes at a time when Western nations have set a price ceiling on Russian oil supplies, which have been boosting volumes to China with discounted oil.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-becomes-chinas-top-crude-oil-supplier-again-as-russian-imports-fall-464464">Saudi Arabia becomes China's top crude oil supplier again as Russian imports fall</a>

The largest energy consumer in the world, China, is a significant trade partner for Gulf oil and gas producers.&nbsp;

The trip as per AFP is just President Xi's third abroad since the coronavirus outbreak started and his first to the top oil exporting nation since 2016, follows US Vice President Joe Biden's visit in July, during which he unsuccessfully lobbied for increased oil output.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping began a visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit has been touted by Beijing as the nation's biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world, however, as per the US, it serves as an example of Chinese attempts to exert influence.

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping began a visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit has been touted by Beijing as the nation's biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world, however, as per the US, it serves as an example of Chinese attempts to exert influence. The meeting between Saudi Arabia and China takes place at a time when relations between the Kingdom and the US are strained as a result of US criticism and Saudi support of OPEC+ oil output limitations. × According to John Kirby, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, "We are mindful of the influence that China is trying to grow around the world." According to a Reuters report quoting Saudi state news agency SPA, Chinese and Saudi companies inked 34 agreements on Wednesday to invest in green energy, information technology, cloud services, transportation, construction, and other industries. While the value of the agreements was not specified, a previous report stated that the two countries will sign agreements worth $30 billion. According to Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, during his visit Xi will hold bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabia. Also read | Explained: What does Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia mean for its relations with the US? Riyadh will then host a meeting with Arab leaders and a larger gathering of Gulf Arab governments that will mark "an epoch-making milestone in the history of the development of China-Arab relations." Saudi Arabia is China's biggest oil supplier, and Xi's visit comes at a time when Western nations have set a price ceiling on Russian oil supplies, which have been boosting volumes to China with discounted oil. Also read | Saudi Arabia becomes China's top crude oil supplier again as Russian imports fall The largest energy consumer in the world, China, is a significant trade partner for Gulf oil and gas producers. The trip as per AFP is just President Xi's third abroad since the coronavirus outbreak started and his first to the top oil exporting nation since 2016, follows US Vice President Joe Biden's visit in July, during which he unsuccessfully lobbied for increased oil output. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Xi meets MBS as China-Saudi Arabia sign 34 agreements worth $30 billion

Xi Jinping is attending a summit in Saudi Arabia. It's his first trip to the Kingdom since 2016. Should the U.S. be worried about the growing relations between the two nations? Watch this video to know more.

Trending on WION: What Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia means for the U.S.?

US President Joe Biden, during his Saudi Arabia visit months ago, did not hold back in expressing his confidence that Saudi Arabia would act to increase the oil supply in the upcoming weeks. However, the little rise in oil output was only embarrassing since it was far insufficient to meet US demand. But it wasn't everything. After Biden's visit to the Kingdom, the OPEC+ group's decision to reduce crude oil output by two million barrels per day in October gave a massive setback to the US and Saudi Arabian ties.&nbsp;

The world was closely watching the Biden-MBS meet, especially after Biden had declared Saudi Arabia a pariah post Khashoggi's killing in 2018 and the meeting was anticipated to reset the ties between the two nations. MBS, as per Biden, denied involvement in the murder during their meeting in Riyadh. "He basically said that he was not personally responsible for it," Biden said over the crown prince's response during their meeting. "I indicated that I thought he was."

In the latest, however,&nbsp;after the Biden administration stated that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be granted head-of-state protection, a federal court in the nation's capital decided to dismiss a civil action against him for the murder of author Jamal Khashoggi. Biden visited Israel and the West Bank on his tour to the Middle East, which started on 13 July and finished on 16 July. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the severe energy crisis it caused for European nations, Biden paid a visit with some hope. He saw that he needed to change the US strategy of leaving the Middle East and try to rebalance his relationships with regional leaders. But how effective was the visit in the end? Not so much.&nbsp;

The stark contrast: Xi’s red-carpet welcome&nbsp;

The visit to Saudi Arabia by Chinese president Xi Jinping will be very different from that of President Joe Biden. It appears that the Gulf Arab nations have intensified their independent-minded approach. They have recently started veering away from US foreign policy, after decades. For China, the Gulf has disregarded several US cautions regarding expanding alliances with Beijing and Chinese businesses, citing human rights abuses of Uyghur minorities in the Xinjiang region.

To the dismay of the US, the military relationship of Saudi Arabia with China is also changing. When the US threatened to supply UAE with F-35 combat fighters over Saudi Arabia's 5G arrangement with Chinese tech giant Huawei, Abu Dhabi stood by the contract.

The pomp and circumstance surrounding Xi's travel to Saudi Arabia is sending an implicit message to the US. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a United Arab Emirates expert and visiting senior fellow at Harvard University, told CNN that this is a new Saudi Arabia, a new Gulf and a new reality. “The new reality is that China is rising and Asia is rising and whether the US likes it or not, we have to deal with China," he added.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden, during his Saudi Arabia visit months ago, did not hold back in expressing his confidence that Saudi Arabia would act to increase the oil supply in the upcoming weeks.

US President Joe Biden, during his Saudi Arabia visit months ago, did not hold back in expressing his confidence that Saudi Arabia would act to increase the oil supply in the upcoming weeks. However, the little rise in oil output was only embarrassing since it was far insufficient to meet US demand. But it wasn't everything. After Biden's visit to the Kingdom, the OPEC+ group's decision to reduce crude oil output by two million barrels per day in October gave a massive setback to the US and Saudi Arabian ties. The world was closely watching the Biden-MBS meet, especially after Biden had declared Saudi Arabia a pariah post Khashoggi's killing in 2018 and the meeting was anticipated to reset the ties between the two nations. MBS, as per Biden, denied involvement in the murder during their meeting in Riyadh. "He basically said that he was not personally responsible for it," Biden said over the crown prince's response during their meeting. "I indicated that I thought he was." In the latest, however, after the Biden administration stated that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be granted head-of-state protection, a federal court in the nation's capital decided to dismiss a civil action against him for the murder of author Jamal Khashoggi. Biden visited Israel and the West Bank on his tour to the Middle East, which started on 13 July and finished on 16 July. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the severe energy crisis it caused for European nations, Biden paid a visit with some hope. He saw that he needed to change the US strategy of leaving the Middle East and try to rebalance his relationships with regional leaders. But how effective was the visit in the end? Not so much. The stark contrast: Xi’s red-carpet welcome The visit to Saudi Arabia by Chinese president Xi Jinping will be very different from that of President Joe Biden. It appears that the Gulf Arab nations have intensified their independent-minded approach. They have recently started veering away from US foreign policy, after decades. For China, the Gulf has disregarded several US cautions regarding expanding alliances with Beijing and Chinese businesses, citing human rights abuses of Uyghur minorities in the Xinjiang region. To the dismay of the US, the military relationship of Saudi Arabia with China is also changing. When the US threatened to supply UAE with F-35 combat fighters over Saudi Arabia's 5G arrangement with Chinese tech giant Huawei, Abu Dhabi stood by the contract. The pomp and circumstance surrounding Xi's travel to Saudi Arabia is sending an implicit message to the US. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a United Arab Emirates expert and visiting senior fellow at Harvard University, told CNN that this is a new Saudi Arabia, a new Gulf and a new reality. “The new reality is that China is rising and Asia is rising and whether the US likes it or not, we have to deal with China," he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

A New Gulf? Biden's fistbump 'disaster' vs. Saudi Arabia's grandiose welcome for Xi

Xi Jinping is attending a summit in Saudi Arabia. It's his first trip to the Kingdom since 2016. Should the U.S. be worried about the growing relations between the two nations? Priyanka Sharma brings you the details.

WION Fineprint | Should the U.S. worry about the China-Saudi summit?

A federal judge in Washington has missed a lawsuit file by the fiancé of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi against Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. The judge cited President Biden's grant of immunity. The US district judge suggested he was reluctant to throw out the lawsuit but added that he has no choice given the Biden administration's decision.

US: Joe Biden's govt grants legal immunity to Mohammed bin Salman

Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his first such visit to the biggest exporter of crude oil since 2016, reported the Saudi state media on Tuesday.&nbsp;Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to mark&nbsp;Xi's arrival by extending a lavish welcome. Diplomats in the region are saying that it may contrast starkly with the muted reception offered to US&nbsp;President Joe Biden in July.

During the visit, a bilateral summit chaired by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud&nbsp;will also be attended by the kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reported the official Saudi Press Agency.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-former-leader-hu-jintao-makes-first-public-appearance-after-dramatic-congress-exit-540555">China's former leader Hu Jintao makes first public appearance after dramatic Congress exit</a>

The state news agency stated that Xi will also take part in a summit which will be attended by the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council's rulers and hold talks with the leaders from the Middle East, stated the state news agency.

The tour of the Chinese leader coincides with the increased tensions between the United States and Saudi Arabia over issues like regional security, human rights and energy policy.

The partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia suffered the latest blow in October when the OPEC+ oil bloc decided to decrease crude oil production by two million barrels per day, a step the White House claimed amounted to "aligning with Russia" on the Ukraine war.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-may-announce-10-new-covid-19-measures-on-wednesday-report-540225">China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report</a>

In its latest meeting on Sunday, OPEC+ decided to keep those cuts unchanged. China is the biggest customer of Saudi Arabia's crude oil and has been purchasing around a quarter of the total exported Saudi oil.

According to analysts, the two leaders, apart from energy, will be discussing potential deals which can lead to Chinese firms'&nbsp;deeper involvement in mega-projects which are part of Prince Mohammed's vision of diversifying the economy of Saudi Arabia beyond oil.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his first such visit to the biggest exporter of crude oil since 2016, reported the Saudi state media on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his first such visit to the biggest exporter of crude oil since 2016, reported the Saudi state media on Tuesday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to mark Xi's arrival by extending a lavish welcome. Diplomats in the region are saying that it may contrast starkly with the muted reception offered to US President Joe Biden in July. During the visit, a bilateral summit chaired by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will also be attended by the kingdom's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reported the official Saudi Press Agency. ALSO READ| China's former leader Hu Jintao makes first public appearance after dramatic Congress exit The state news agency stated that Xi will also take part in a summit which will be attended by the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council's rulers and hold talks with the leaders from the Middle East, stated the state news agency. The tour of the Chinese leader coincides with the increased tensions between the United States and Saudi Arabia over issues like regional security, human rights and energy policy. The partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia suffered the latest blow in October when the OPEC+ oil bloc decided to decrease crude oil production by two million barrels per day, a step the White House claimed amounted to "aligning with Russia" on the Ukraine war. ALSO READ| China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report In its latest meeting on Sunday, OPEC+ decided to keep those cuts unchanged. China is the biggest customer of Saudi Arabia's crude oil and has been purchasing around a quarter of the total exported Saudi oil. According to analysts, the two leaders, apart from energy, will be discussing potential deals which can lead to Chinese firms' deeper involvement in mega-projects which are part of Prince Mohammed's vision of diversifying the economy of Saudi Arabia beyond oil. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Riyadh on Wednesday, will meet Saudi and Arab leaders

If media reports are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after agreeing on a two-year deal. According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a $212 million per season deal (€200 million).

If media reports are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after agreeing on a two-year deal. According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a $212 million per season deal (€200 million). He will be joining the club in January after the talks of a deal being 'close' first emerged in November. The initial deal is expected to be around $105 million but will be beefed up through advertisements and sponsorship deals. If the deal is completed, it will be one of the most lucrative in sports history, rivalling that of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo named in the worst team of World Cup group stage The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a free agent ever since having an acrimonious breakup with Manchester United. 37-year-old Ronaldo's tumultuous return to Manchester United came to a close last month after he gave an explosive interview to British journalist Piers Morgan. Ronald took a no-holds-barred approach in the interview and laid it bare how he was treated at Manchester United and how the club had been in a rut for years. Days after the interview, both parties decided to part ways by a mutual agreement with immediate effect. “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early,” Ronaldo said on his official accounts. “I love Manchester United, and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.” Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect While Ronaldo fared relatively well in the last season for the Red Devils, he could not break into Erik Ten Hag's plans as the Dutchman preferred to play a high-pressing game which did not suit the ageing Portuguese. Since the beginning of the season, news of Ronaldo being unhappy at the club had been making the waves. During United's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Ronaldo refused to take the pitch and walked off before the final whistle. His last match for United came against Aston Villa where the team suffered a 3-1 defeat under his captaincy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cristiano Ronaldo to join Saudi Arabian club for a record $200 million fees: Report

Saudi Arabia's Neom has just hosted its first Bollywood shoot as Shah Rukh Khan shot a portion of his upcoming film 'Dunki' at the location. The film marks the first collaboration of filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani and Khan.&nbsp; 
 
The announcement was made at the second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah on Sunday, with Wayne Borg, the managing director of NEOM, adding that the 200-episode-a-year Saudi soap opera 'Exceptional,'&nbsp;produced by MBC, would also be shot at one of the region’s new sound stages. 
 
Borg also addressed nearby competitor Abu Dhabi in UAE, which has turned into a favourite spot for Hollywood shoots in recent years. "I think our ambitions are much greater than theirs," said Borg.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sharon-stone-recognizing-shah-rukh-khan-at-the-red-sea-international-film-festival-is-all-of-us-watch-video-539503">Sharon Stone's fangirling over Shah Rukh Khan at Red Sea Film Festival is all of us; watch video</a> 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-shah-rukh-khan-performs-umrah-after-wrapping-dunki-in-saudi-arabia-see-photos-video-539344">Shah Rukh Khan performs Umrah after wrapping 'Dunki' in Saudi Arabia. See photos, video</a>

In the last 18 months, Neom has hosted approximately 26 productions including 'Desert Warrior' which stars Hollywood actor Anthony Mackie and is directed by Rupert Wyatt.&nbsp; 
 
Saudi Arabia is currently playing host to numerous Hollywood and Bollywood stars at the ongoing Red Sea International Film Festival.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/red-sea-film-festival-saudi-arabia-hosts-star-studded-first-edition-437443">Red Sea Film Festival: Saudi Arabia hosts star-studded first edition</a>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Saudi Arabia's Neom has just hosted its first Bollywood shoot as Shah Rukh Khan shot a portion of his upcoming film 'Dunki' at the location. The film marks the first collaboration of filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani and Khan.

Saudi Arabia's Neom has just hosted its first Bollywood shoot as Shah Rukh Khan shot a portion of his upcoming film 'Dunki' at the location. The film marks the first collaboration of filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani and Khan. The announcement was made at the second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah on Sunday, with Wayne Borg, the managing director of NEOM, adding that the 200-episode-a-year Saudi soap opera 'Exceptional,' produced by MBC, would also be shot at one of the region’s new sound stages. Borg also addressed nearby competitor Abu Dhabi in UAE, which has turned into a favourite spot for Hollywood shoots in recent years. "I think our ambitions are much greater than theirs," said Borg. Also read: Sharon Stone's fangirling over Shah Rukh Khan at Red Sea Film Festival is all of us; watch video Shah Rukh Khan performs Umrah after wrapping 'Dunki' in Saudi Arabia. See photos, video In the last 18 months, Neom has hosted approximately 26 productions including 'Desert Warrior' which stars Hollywood actor Anthony Mackie and is directed by Rupert Wyatt. Saudi Arabia is currently playing host to numerous Hollywood and Bollywood stars at the ongoing Red Sea International Film Festival. Red Sea Film Festival: Saudi Arabia hosts star-studded first edition

Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' becomes the first Bollywood film to shoot in Neom, Saudi Arabia

NEOM's chief executive officer&nbsp;Al-Nasr highlighted that NEOM is now creating 15 islands as phase 1 of its development, which will be followed by a complete mobility system, the "largest marina on Earth," and a commitment to sustainable energy. 95 per cent of the whole territory of NEOM will be turned into a natural reserve. The Line, Oxagon, and Trojena, the three mega-projects on which NEOM is concentrating its efforts, are expected to create 380,000 new employment and SAR180 billion in additional GDP for the kingdom.

Mirror Facade 'The Line'

The first project is called 'The Line.' Saudi Arabia would also employ a lot of artificial intelligence to design The Line rather than physically construct the future metropolis, said NEOM's executive director Giles Pendleton in an internal interview. He said that they must construct a significant amount of real estate quickly. Pendleton highlighted the city which will have nine million inhabitants will be created from a series of modular elements that are pre-engineered and preset as to what their function be.&nbsp;

<img alt="The Line" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4d08acf4-c067-4a93-b7ba-e97448071f0d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The-Line-Project-25%20Mirror.jpg" />

It is being built in the northwestern Tabuk region of the kingdom. The metropolis will be able to blend in with the surrounding landscape because to The Line's mirror facade. The linear metropolis will run on 100% renewable energy, have no roads, automobiles, or emissions, and retain 95% of its area for wildlife because of its smaller infrastructural footprint. The city is designed to place a higher priority on health and happiness than on transportation and infrastructure. One of the interesting detail that Pendleton revealed was that The Line will have a “one door-lock system.” The development include areas for living, working, and playing in a futuristic metropolis.&nbsp;

<img alt="The Line" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="23f4c6aa-029f-4ddc-921c-215649988993" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mirror%20facadee.jpg" />

Saudi Crown Prince MBS said the plans for the city's vertically tiered settlements "would challenge the typical flat, horizontal cities and offer a paradigm for ecological preservation and increased human livability."

Snow-Capped 'TROJENA'

The tourist attraction of TROJENA in Saudi Arabia is 50 kilometres from the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and is a component of the nation's massive NEOM project. The location, which has heights ranging from 1,500 metres to 2,600 metres and a footprint of around 60 square kilometres, is about to undergo major transformations in preparation for the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The first Middle Eastern nation to host the competition, which will include 32 participant nations, is Saudi Arabia. Set to redefine mountain tourism, the 2026 TROJENA project is situated in a region with below-zero winter temperatures. In comparison to other regions of Saudi Arabia, the region's average annual temperature is around 10 degrees lower.

<img alt="Snow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58c68f44-5736-4e0e-aa4d-df6e2cb4b1fe" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-12-05T161710.327.png" />

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said during the launch of the sci-fi project that TROJENA will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, which is aligned with the goals of the kingdom’s Vision 2030.

A floating metropolis 'OXAGON'

Saudi Arabia is constructing the Oxagon, a floating metropolis it claims will revolutionize the global industrial sector, somewhere around the Red Sea, close to the Suez Canal. The brand-new city, which is shaped exactly as its name suggests, is a component of the Neom megaproject in the kingdom and is dedicated to building a new logistics hub that, in the words of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, will "redefine the world's approach to industrial development in the future."

<img alt="Oxagen" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f4946dcf-a24e-4ae1-804f-3bbca7236497" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Oxagon-2.jpg" />

With a target completion date of 2030, it was initially unveiled in November of last year. By 2025, several of its main components, such as sophisticated logistics solutions facilities, are anticipated to materialise. By 2030, Oxagon hopes to house about 90,000 people, with the first moving in as soon as next year. But what will be present at the Oxagon? There are many of factories. The floating city will mostly consist of industries, industrial sites, and other logistics-related areas, however, there will also be residential settlements.

NEOM's chief executive officer Al-Nasr highlighted that NEOM is now creating 15 islands as phase 1 of its development, which will be followed by a complete mobility system, the "largest marina on Earth," and a commitment to sustainable energy.

NEOM's chief executive officer Al-Nasr highlighted that NEOM is now creating 15 islands as phase 1 of its development, which will be followed by a complete mobility system, the "largest marina on Earth," and a commitment to sustainable energy. 95 per cent of the whole territory of NEOM will be turned into a natural reserve. The Line, Oxagon, and Trojena, the three mega-projects on which NEOM is concentrating its efforts, are expected to create 380,000 new employment and SAR180 billion in additional GDP for the kingdom. Mirror Facade 'The Line' The first project is called 'The Line.' Saudi Arabia would also employ a lot of artificial intelligence to design The Line rather than physically construct the future metropolis, said NEOM's executive director Giles Pendleton in an internal interview. He said that they must construct a significant amount of real estate quickly. Pendleton highlighted the city which will have nine million inhabitants will be created from a series of modular elements that are pre-engineered and preset as to what their function be. It is being built in the northwestern Tabuk region of the kingdom. The metropolis will be able to blend in with the surrounding landscape because to The Line's mirror facade. The linear metropolis will run on 100% renewable energy, have no roads, automobiles, or emissions, and retain 95% of its area for wildlife because of its smaller infrastructural footprint. The city is designed to place a higher priority on health and happiness than on transportation and infrastructure. One of the interesting detail that Pendleton revealed was that The Line will have a “one door-lock system.” The development include areas for living, working, and playing in a futuristic metropolis. Saudi Crown Prince MBS said the plans for the city's vertically tiered settlements "would challenge the typical flat, horizontal cities and offer a paradigm for ecological preservation and increased human livability." Snow-Capped 'TROJENA' The tourist attraction of TROJENA in Saudi Arabia is 50 kilometres from the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and is a component of the nation's massive NEOM project. The location, which has heights ranging from 1,500 metres to 2,600 metres and a footprint of around 60 square kilometres, is about to undergo major transformations in preparation for the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The first Middle Eastern nation to host the competition, which will include 32 participant nations, is Saudi Arabia. Set to redefine mountain tourism, the 2026 TROJENA project is situated in a region with below-zero winter temperatures. In comparison to other regions of Saudi Arabia, the region's average annual temperature is around 10 degrees lower. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said during the launch of the sci-fi project that TROJENA will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, which is aligned with the goals of the kingdom’s Vision 2030. A floating metropolis 'OXAGON' Saudi Arabia is constructing the Oxagon, a floating metropolis it claims will revolutionize the global industrial sector, somewhere around the Red Sea, close to the Suez Canal. The brand-new city, which is shaped exactly as its name suggests, is a component of the Neom megaproject in the kingdom and is dedicated to building a new logistics hub that, in the words of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, will "redefine the world's approach to industrial development in the future." With a target completion date of 2030, it was initially unveiled in November of last year. By 2025, several of its main components, such as sophisticated logistics solutions facilities, are anticipated to materialise. By 2030, Oxagon hopes to house about 90,000 people, with the first moving in as soon as next year. But what will be present at the Oxagon? There are many of factories. The floating city will mostly consist of industries, industrial sites, and other logistics-related areas, however, there will also be residential settlements.

Wow ! A tour inside Saudi Arabia’s sci-fi city 'NEOM'

OPEC's recent decision to cut oil production prompts the U.S. to re-evaluate its ties with Saudi Arabia.

The West Asia Post | Oil crisis: U.S. re-evaluates ties with Saudis

Mexico defeated Saudi Arabia with the scoreline of 2-1 only to crash out of FIFA World Cup 2022 on goal difference after a dramatic finish. This will be the first time since 1990 that Mexico won't be featuring in the knockout stages. Watch this video to know more.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Mexico miss out on last 16 despite beating Saudi Arabia

If the chatter coming from the UK media is to be believed, Premier League giants Liverpool FC and its ownership have held talks with two consortiums based in West Asia.

If the chatter coming from the UK media is to be believed, Premier League giants Liverpool FC and its ownership have held talks with two consortiums based in West Asia. Both consortiums are believed to have a close working relationship with the respective Saudi and Qatari royal families. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is the current owner of the Merseyside club and they have valued the club at around $4 billion. Banking giants Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been roped in to handle the club's takeover process in case their demands are met. According to the reports, FSG director Mike Gordon has been approached by the consortiums regarding the sale. Kingdom gives the green light Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal has already given the green light from the government, saying the kingdom will support the bids for the takeover. “If there’s an investor willing to do so and the numbers add up, why not? We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in because we know that’s going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom," said Turki Al Faisal “From the private sector, I can’t speak on their behalf, but there is a lot of interest and appetite and there’s a lot of passion about football," he added. FSG put the club for sale Earlier this month, FSG put the club up for sale, 12 years after completing the takeover from Tom Hicks and George Gillett. "FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club," read a statement released by FSG at the time. Read more: Premier League club Liverpool put up for sale by Fenway Sports Group After the news of the takeover gained pace, several big names started doing the rounds. However, it was the supposed interest of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani that gained the maximum traction. Liverpool fans for long have been demanding that FSG sell the club as their 'buy-to-sell' policy has proved to be a bottleneck in Klopp's plans of refreshing the squad. Read more: Mukesh Ambani enters race to buy Premier League giants Liverpool - Report While a faction of the fans is alright with the club being sold to state-based oil owners, another faction is adamant that selling Liverpool to state-sponsored authorities goes against the ethos of the club. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Liverpool in talks with Saudi and Qatari consortiums after Mukesh Ambani takeover rumour: Reports

In the latest setback to the Saudi-Qatar relationship, Saudi Arabia is believed to have blocked its people from watching the live coverage of FIFA World Cup 2022. Days after announcing a national holiday in celebration of their country’s biggest win on a World Cup stage against Argentina, the Athletic reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media had&nbsp;blocked a Qatar-owned streaming platform from broadcasting the matches in the country.

BeIN Sports, a Qatar-based firm which is run by the Paris Saint-Germain chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, have the broadcast rights for the World Cup in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As a matter of fact, the matches in the MENA region are divided up between 22 free-to-air games, whereas, the remaining 42 matches are supposed to be live-streamed on a platform called TOD TV, in all 24 countries.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/poland-vs-saudi-arabia-at-fifa-world-cup-2022-match-prediction-preview-head-to-head-and-line-ups-537648">Poland vs Saudi Arabia at FIFA World Cup 2022 - Match prediction, preview, head-to-head and line-ups</a>

As further reported by the New York Times, just before the start of their World Cup opener, BeIN Qatari executives were made aware that their live-streaming media platform is banned in Saudi Arabia. While all this happened when Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, sat just two seats away from Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Qatari ruling Emir.

Meanwhile, fans back in Saudi Arabia could still watch their country’s greatest win in FIFA World Cup as one of the matches were made available free-to-air. Plus, Saturday’s other big clash against Poland will be televised live too.

Saudi Arabia stunned the world on Tuesday evening when they defeated Argentina in what is termed the greatest upset in FIFA World Cup history. Saudis were lagging behind 0-1 in the first half but made an inspiring turn-around in the second half to make it 2-1 at the end of the day. For them to qualify for the next, Saudi Arabia must repeat their heroics on the field against a potent Poland team.

In the latest setback to the Saudi-Qatar relationship, Saudi Arabia is believed to have blocked its people from watching the live coverage of FIFA World Cup 2022.

In the latest setback to the Saudi-Qatar relationship, Saudi Arabia is believed to have blocked its people from watching the live coverage of FIFA World Cup 2022. Days after announcing a national holiday in celebration of their country’s biggest win on a World Cup stage against Argentina, the Athletic reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media had blocked a Qatar-owned streaming platform from broadcasting the matches in the country. BeIN Sports, a Qatar-based firm which is run by the Paris Saint-Germain chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, have the broadcast rights for the World Cup in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As a matter of fact, the matches in the MENA region are divided up between 22 free-to-air games, whereas, the remaining 42 matches are supposed to be live-streamed on a platform called TOD TV, in all 24 countries. ALSO READ: Poland vs Saudi Arabia at FIFA World Cup 2022 - Match prediction, preview, head-to-head and line-ups As further reported by the New York Times, just before the start of their World Cup opener, BeIN Qatari executives were made aware that their live-streaming media platform is banned in Saudi Arabia. While all this happened when Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, sat just two seats away from Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Qatari ruling Emir. Meanwhile, fans back in Saudi Arabia could still watch their country’s greatest win in FIFA World Cup as one of the matches were made available free-to-air. Plus, Saturday’s other big clash against Poland will be televised live too. Saudi Arabia stunned the world on Tuesday evening when they defeated Argentina in what is termed the greatest upset in FIFA World Cup history. Saudis were lagging behind 0-1 in the first half but made an inspiring turn-around in the second half to make it 2-1 at the end of the day. For them to qualify for the next, Saudi Arabia must repeat their heroics on the field against a potent Poland team.

Saudi Arabia blocked Qatar-owned streaming platform from broadcasting FIFA World Cup 2022 matches

For their outstanding performance and a scintillating win against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup tournament, every Saudi Arabia player will reportedly be gifted a Rolls-Royce car.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win over Argentina in the Group C opener was so special that the authorities declared national holiday for three days.&nbsp;

Shockwaves were sent across the football world when Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina and put Lionel Messi's World Cup dream under&nbsp;threat. The Green Falcons produced one of the biggest upsets in the World Cup history.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-host-nation-qatar-knocked-out-after-second-straight-defeat-537545">FIFA World Cup 2022: Host nation Qatar knocked out after second straight defeat</a>&nbsp;

It seems the celebrations are not over yet as the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has decided to give a present to all the players, several reports said.&nbsp;

It is said that Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud will gift an RM6 million Rolls Royce Phantom to each player&nbsp;when the&nbsp;team will return home.&nbsp;

The luxury car is valued at about €500,000 and features a V12 with 48 valves and a direct gasoline injection. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) of maximum power and 720 Nm (530 lb-ft) of maximum torque.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-amid-strict-rules-rainbow-bucket-hats-flags-allowed-in-wales-iran-game-537417">FIFA World Cup: Amid strict rules rainbow-bucket hats, flags allowed in Wales-Iran game</a>&nbsp;

Saudi team will next play against Robert Lewandowski's Poland on Saturday and if they manage to win, they will surely enter the round of 16.&nbsp;

But coach Herve Renard is treating the win against Argentina as just one of three difficult group games, keeping all the focus on the next game.&nbsp;

Ahead of the match, Renard said that the win has not changed anything. He said: "Nothing has changed. We are still the lowest team in the group in terms of ranking and experience. So nothing changes in our mind or the favourites for the World Cup."

"We know where we come from and we keep our humility because if we don't have the humility we won't be able to play a good game tomorrow," he added.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE&nbsp;

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For their outstanding performance and a scintillating win against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup tournament, every Saudi Arabia player will reportedly be gifted a Rolls-Royce car.

For their outstanding performance and a scintillating win against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup tournament, every Saudi Arabia player will reportedly be gifted a Rolls-Royce car. Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win over Argentina in the Group C opener was so special that the authorities declared national holiday for three days. Shockwaves were sent across the football world when Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina and put Lionel Messi's World Cup dream under threat. The Green Falcons produced one of the biggest upsets in the World Cup history. ALSO READ | FIFA World Cup 2022: Host nation Qatar knocked out after second straight defeat It seems the celebrations are not over yet as the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has decided to give a present to all the players, several reports said. It is said that Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud will gift an RM6 million Rolls Royce Phantom to each player when the team will return home. The luxury car is valued at about €500,000 and features a V12 with 48 valves and a direct gasoline injection. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) of maximum power and 720 Nm (530 lb-ft) of maximum torque. ALSO READ | FIFA World Cup: Amid strict rules rainbow-bucket hats, flags allowed in Wales-Iran game Saudi team will next play against Robert Lewandowski's Poland on Saturday and if they manage to win, they will surely enter the round of 16. But coach Herve Renard is treating the win against Argentina as just one of three difficult group games, keeping all the focus on the next game. Ahead of the match, Renard said that the win has not changed anything. He said: "Nothing has changed. We are still the lowest team in the group in terms of ranking and experience. So nothing changes in our mind or the favourites for the World Cup." "We know where we come from and we keep our humility because if we don't have the humility we won't be able to play a good game tomorrow," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FIFA World Cup: Mohammed bin Salman to gift Rolls-Royce to each Saudi player for win over Argentina

Saudi's Jeddah delayed flights as heavy rainfalls engulfed the city. According to Saudi Press Agency the city closed the schools and the road to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.

Heavy rains, thunderstorms and floods hit Saudi Arabia's Jeddah

Saudi's Jeddah on Thursday delayed flights as heavy rainfalls engulfed the city. According to Saudi Press Agency the city closed the schools and the road to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Images which are widely shared on social media on Thursday showed that waterlogging has lead to traffic snarls in Jeddah. The standing water has partially submergd many vehicles in the city amid heavy rains. Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport said that due to weather conditions, the departure of some flights has been delayed. They airport further exhorted that passengers should contact carriers in order to get up-to-date schedules as the heavy rains persists.&nbsp;

<h2>Schools suspended in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah&nbsp;</h2>

A city of about four million people is on Red Sea. It is well known as 'gateway to Mecca' as every year millions perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. As the city is witnessing a heavy downpour, floods the city has shut down schools in Jeddah. Saudi Press Agency said that schools in the city would be suspended as rains were forecasted to persist throughout the day.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jeddah</a> governorate, western <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaudiArabia</a> , is drowning after very heavy rains that lasted for several hours, and 169 mm of rain was recorded in one of the neighborhoods during the past 6 hours.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Floods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Floods</a> cover the streets of the province 
 
I will post some videos under the tweet <a href="https://t.co/o7h4C8Yvqb">pic.twitter.com/o7h4C8Yvqb</a>
— 𝓛𝓤𝓕𝓕𝓨 (@0_F_0) <a href="https://twitter.com/0_F_0/status/1595748126215864323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Moreover, schools were also shut in nearby towns of Rabigh and Khulais in a bid to preserve the safety of male and female students, as per Saudi Press Agency. The schools are in the mid of final exams however, despite this they have already been closed nationwide on Wednesday. This came after King Salman declared a holiday. The holiday was to mark celebrations after Saudi Arabia’s pull off a massive upset against Argentina at the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022.

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🚨 
 
سيول تاريخية و مشاهد لا توصف الأن أثر <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#امطار_جدة</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#جده_الان</a> 😳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%82?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#جدة_تغرق</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jeddah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaudiArabia</a> 
 
الله يحفظ الجميع 🥺🙏 
- <a href="https://t.co/AhbAuwleQ9">pic.twitter.com/AhbAuwleQ9</a>
— خلف الدوسري (@kalafaldossry) <a href="https://twitter.com/kalafaldossry/status/1595723664313516032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Winter rainstorms and flooding are common phenomenon in Jeddah as it occurs every year.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAUDIARABIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAUDIARABIA</a> 
 
🔴SAUDI ARABIA :<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIDEO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIDEO</a> TERRIBLE FLASH FLOODS IN JEDDAH CITY! 
 
As a result of heavy rains, the streets of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jeddah</a> are flooded.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UltimaHora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UltimaHora</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArabiaSaudita?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArabiaSaudita</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jeddah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flooding?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flooding</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inundaciones?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Inundaciones</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inondation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Inondation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#فيضان</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#جدة</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZIz7nr2KRq">pic.twitter.com/ZIz7nr2KRq</a>
— loveworld (@LoveWorld_Peopl) <a href="https://twitter.com/LoveWorld_Peopl/status/1595703918230917120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<h2>After Schools, Universities followed suit in Saudi's Jeddah&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

According to reports, Saudi's two most known universities, King Abdulaziz University and the University of Jeddah, final exams have been postponed for the first semester. Now, the alternative dates for the final exams are expected to arrive later.The Jeddah rain followed UAE's first winter showers.&nbsp;

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Saudi's Jeddah on Thursday delayed flights as heavy rainfalls engulfed the city. According to Saudi Press Agency the city closed the schools and the road to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.

Saudi's Jeddah on Thursday delayed flights as heavy rainfalls engulfed the city. According to Saudi Press Agency the city closed the schools and the road to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Images which are widely shared on social media on Thursday showed that waterlogging has lead to traffic snarls in Jeddah. The standing water has partially submergd many vehicles in the city amid heavy rains. Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport said that due to weather conditions, the departure of some flights has been delayed. They airport further exhorted that passengers should contact carriers in order to get up-to-date schedules as the heavy rains persists. Schools suspended in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah A city of about four million people is on Red Sea. It is well known as 'gateway to Mecca' as every year millions perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. As the city is witnessing a heavy downpour, floods the city has shut down schools in Jeddah. Saudi Press Agency said that schools in the city would be suspended as rains were forecasted to persist throughout the day. #Jeddah governorate, western #SaudiArabia , is drowning after very heavy rains that lasted for several hours, and 169 mm of rain was recorded in one of the neighborhoods during the past 6 hours.#Floods cover the streets of the province I will post some videos under the tweet pic.twitter.com/o7h4C8Yvqb — 𝓛𝓤𝓕𝓕𝓨 (@0_F_0) November 24, 2022 × Moreover, schools were also shut in nearby towns of Rabigh and Khulais in a bid to preserve the safety of male and female students, as per Saudi Press Agency. The schools are in the mid of final exams however, despite this they have already been closed nationwide on Wednesday. This came after King Salman declared a holiday. The holiday was to mark celebrations after Saudi Arabia’s pull off a massive upset against Argentina at the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022. 🚨 سيول تاريخية و مشاهد لا توصف الأن أثر #امطار_جدة #جده_الان 😳#جدة_تغرق #jeddah #SaudiArabia الله يحفظ الجميع 🥺🙏 - pic.twitter.com/AhbAuwleQ9 — خلف الدوسري (@kalafaldossry) November 24, 2022 × Winter rainstorms and flooding are common phenomenon in Jeddah as it occurs every year. #BREAKING #SAUDIARABIA 🔴SAUDI ARABIA :#VIDEO TERRIBLE FLASH FLOODS IN JEDDAH CITY! As a result of heavy rains, the streets of #Jeddah are flooded.#BreakingNews #UltimaHora #ArabiaSaudita #Jeddah #Flooding #Inundaciones #Inondation #Sel #فيضان #جدة pic.twitter.com/ZIz7nr2KRq — loveworld (@LoveWorld_Peopl) November 24, 2022 × After Schools, Universities followed suit in Saudi's Jeddah According to reports, Saudi's two most known universities, King Abdulaziz University and the University of Jeddah, final exams have been postponed for the first semester. Now, the alternative dates for the final exams are expected to arrive later.The Jeddah rain followed UAE's first winter showers.

Watch Video: Heavy rains, thunderstorms and floods hit Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, schools shut and flights delayed

Saudi Arabia has long sought a place for itself on the global sports landscape. The wait ended Tuesday when the kingdom’s FIFA World Cup team registered an unexpected 2-1 victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina. This was a remarkable feat as the country has never won the first match in any FIFA World Cup, facing an 8-0 defeat by Germany in 2002 and a 5-0 loss to Russia in 2018. By defeating Argentina, Saudi players broke their 36-match winning streak in a historic upset.&nbsp;To mark this historic World Cup victory, the Kingdom’s authorities have announced a public holiday on Wednesday, 23th November, 2022. This means that all private and public employees, including all students at any educational stage, will get a holiday today in Saudi Arabia.

<h2>Public Holiday announced in Saudi Arabia</h2>

Saudi Arabia’s football game against Argentina was celebrated as a festival in the Gulf nation. Universities gave the afternoon off to students to let them watch the live broadcast. City streets were almost abandoned. When Saudi Arabia emerged victorious, authorities took no time in announcing Wednesday as a public holiday.

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Saudi Arabia fans really hit the Ronaldo 'SIU' celebration after their win against Argentina 😅 
 
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/marca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marca</a>) <a href="https://t.co/8vKCSIU08R">pic.twitter.com/8vKCSIU08R</a>
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1595059707101716486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Saudi Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MohammedBinSalman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MohammedBinSalman</a> fell in prostration after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaudiArabia</a> 🇸🇦 won match against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argentina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Argentina</a> 🇦🇷. <a href="https://t.co/ipJwoOEPur">pic.twitter.com/ipJwoOEPur</a>
— 🎙The Milli Chronicle (@millichronicle) <a href="https://twitter.com/millichronicle/status/1595070054865199104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Congratulations Saudi Arabia! 👏🏻 
“🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia become the first Muslim country to win a game at this World Cup by defeating one of the tournament favourites, Argentina.” 
Alhamdulillah 😊<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/z9UUxnfSCS">pic.twitter.com/z9UUxnfSCS</a>
— Syeda Fatima! (@SyedaNaqvi50) <a href="https://twitter.com/SyedaNaqvi50/status/1595257932060442624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-offside-traps-and-pure-grit-how-saudi-arabia-stunned-argentina-and-the-world-536502">FIFA World Cup 2022: Offside traps and pure grit - How Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina and the world</a>

<h2>Who can avail the public holiday on Wednesday?</h2>

As per Saudi authorities, all employees of the private as well as public sector will be given a public holiday on Wednesday. The government announced that all male and female students in all education stages can also avail this holiday. This is exam season in Saudi Arabia, so exams will have to be rescheduled.

<h2>Free entries announced in theme parks and entertainment sectors</h2>

An advisor to the Royal Court and the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh, made the announcement on Twitter that Tuesday will see the free entrance in the country's top theme parks and entertainment venues. After the final whistle, celebrations erupted in spontaneous dance circles throughout the capital Riyadh. Males and females were seen hanging out together in cafes and restaurants to have fun, a new and rare trend emerging in the Islamic nation under reformist Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia has long sought a place for itself on the global sports landscape. The wait ended Tuesday when the kingdom’s FIFA World Cup team registered an unexpected 2-1 victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Saudi Arabia has long sought a place for itself on the global sports landscape. The wait ended Tuesday when the kingdom’s FIFA World Cup team registered an unexpected 2-1 victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina. This was a remarkable feat as the country has never won the first match in any FIFA World Cup, facing an 8-0 defeat by Germany in 2002 and a 5-0 loss to Russia in 2018. By defeating Argentina, Saudi players broke their 36-match winning streak in a historic upset. To mark this historic World Cup victory, the Kingdom’s authorities have announced a public holiday on Wednesday, 23th November, 2022. This means that all private and public employees, including all students at any educational stage, will get a holiday today in Saudi Arabia. Public Holiday announced in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s football game against Argentina was celebrated as a festival in the Gulf nation. Universities gave the afternoon off to students to let them watch the live broadcast. City streets were almost abandoned. When Saudi Arabia emerged victorious, authorities took no time in announcing Wednesday as a public holiday. Saudi Arabia fans really hit the Ronaldo 'SIU' celebration after their win against Argentina 😅 (via @marca) pic.twitter.com/8vKCSIU08R — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 22, 2022 × Saudi Prime Minister #MohammedBinSalman fell in prostration after #SaudiArabia 🇸🇦 won match against #Argentina 🇦🇷. pic.twitter.com/ipJwoOEPur — 🎙The Milli Chronicle (@millichronicle) November 22, 2022 × Congratulations Saudi Arabia! 👏🏻 “🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia become the first Muslim country to win a game at this World Cup by defeating one of the tournament favourites, Argentina.” Alhamdulillah 😊#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/z9UUxnfSCS — Syeda Fatima! (@SyedaNaqvi50) November 23, 2022 × Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Offside traps and pure grit - How Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina and the world Who can avail the public holiday on Wednesday? As per Saudi authorities, all employees of the private as well as public sector will be given a public holiday on Wednesday. The government announced that all male and female students in all education stages can also avail this holiday. This is exam season in Saudi Arabia, so exams will have to be rescheduled. Free entries announced in theme parks and entertainment sectors An advisor to the Royal Court and the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh, made the announcement on Twitter that Tuesday will see the free entrance in the country's top theme parks and entertainment venues. After the final whistle, celebrations erupted in spontaneous dance circles throughout the capital Riyadh. Males and females were seen hanging out together in cafes and restaurants to have fun, a new and rare trend emerging in the Islamic nation under reformist Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Public holiday announced in Saudi Arabia to mark the unexpected FIFA victory over Argentina

Crown Prince Salman has declared a national holiday in Saudi Arabia. The move comes after Football team’s shocking win over Argentina. Saudi Green Falcons won over Lionel Messi’s side by a score of 2-1.

Saudi King declares public holiday after win over Argentina

Tuesday, November 22, will mark the beginning of Group C for the FIFA World Cup 2022 when Argentina, a two-time winner, takes on Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. For a player called Lionel Messi, who holds the weight of a whole nation to end their 36-year wait for a World Championship, emotions will be running high. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia will want to improve on previous opening-game routs. Keeping in view the history of Saudi Arabia's World Cup opening losses, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, appear to be off to an easy start on Tuesday.

<h2>Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Head to Head</h2>

The two countries have previously faced off four times, with the South American side prevailing with two victories and two draws. The 1992 FIFA Confederation Cup final, the first matchup of its sort between the continental winners, featured the sole competitive encounter between the teams. At the King Fahd II Stadium in Riyadh, Argentina easily won the championship match, winning 3-1 to win the first tournament. Argentina has so already won a FIFA Trophy in a Middle Eastern country. The most recent encounter between the teams took place in November 2012 and resulted in a scoreless draw.

On July 6, 1988, Argentina met Saudi Arabia for Bicentennial Gold Cup and the match&nbsp;resulted in a 2-2 draw. The two nations again came face-to-face for Bicentennial Gold Cup on July 16, 1988 with Argentina scoring 2 two goals while Saudi Arabia struggled at a stalemate. On October 20, 1992, Saudi Arabia v Argentina game resulted in a 1-3 for FIFA Confederations Cup. In the latest International Friendly, Saudi Arabia and Argentina match resulted in a stalemate, the only competitive meet between the South American side and Riyadh.&nbsp;

<h2>Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Group details</h2>

Argentina will undoubtedly be the favourite to top Group C, and they should overcome Saudi Arabia to move to the next stage of the competition. Messi and Co. are almost certain to triumph over the Asian squad. Argentina will then meet Mexico, a formidable North American team, in the Lusail Iconic Stadium on November 26. On the same day, Saudi Arabia will play Poland in a match that will be crucial in determining who will finish second in the group if Argentina performs as predicted. Argentina's match against Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on Wednesday, November 30 will either be a game they must win or a rest day. Saudi Arabia will have the chance to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 28 years if they do have something to play for in their matchup against Mexico on the same day at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

<h2>Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia World Cup record&nbsp;</h2>

Argentina has made 18 appearances so far in the World Cup with the first one in 1930. The Argentines have won two FIFA World Cups, in 1978 and 1986. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made 6 appearances with the first one in 1994. Their best result came in 1994, reaching the Round of 16.&nbsp;

<h2>Argentina vs Saudi Arabia predicted lineup</h2>

Argentina (4-3-3): E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, L Martinez, Acuna; Rodriguez, Paredes, Fernandez; Messi, L Martinez, Di Maria

Saudi Arabia (4-5-1): Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Al-Amri, Al-Shahrani; Al-Najei, Kanno, Al-Malki; Asiri, Al-Brikan, Al-Daswari

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia will face off at the FIFA World Cup 2022 matchday 1 encounter on Tuesday, November 22. The match will kick-off at 3:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM localtime at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail.&nbsp;

<h2>Prediction</h2>

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia: 3-1&nbsp;

Tuesday, November 22, will mark the beginning of Group C for the FIFA World Cup 2022 when Argentina, a two-time winner, takes on Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

Tuesday, November 22, will mark the beginning of Group C for the FIFA World Cup 2022 when Argentina, a two-time winner, takes on Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. For a player called Lionel Messi, who holds the weight of a whole nation to end their 36-year wait for a World Championship, emotions will be running high. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia will want to improve on previous opening-game routs. Keeping in view the history of Saudi Arabia's World Cup opening losses, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, appear to be off to an easy start on Tuesday. Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Head to Head The two countries have previously faced off four times, with the South American side prevailing with two victories and two draws. The 1992 FIFA Confederation Cup final, the first matchup of its sort between the continental winners, featured the sole competitive encounter between the teams. At the King Fahd II Stadium in Riyadh, Argentina easily won the championship match, winning 3-1 to win the first tournament. Argentina has so already won a FIFA Trophy in a Middle Eastern country. The most recent encounter between the teams took place in November 2012 and resulted in a scoreless draw. On July 6, 1988, Argentina met Saudi Arabia for Bicentennial Gold Cup and the match resulted in a 2-2 draw. The two nations again came face-to-face for Bicentennial Gold Cup on July 16, 1988 with Argentina scoring 2 two goals while Saudi Arabia struggled at a stalemate. On October 20, 1992, Saudi Arabia v Argentina game resulted in a 1-3 for FIFA Confederations Cup. In the latest International Friendly, Saudi Arabia and Argentina match resulted in a stalemate, the only competitive meet between the South American side and Riyadh. Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Group details Argentina will undoubtedly be the favourite to top Group C, and they should overcome Saudi Arabia to move to the next stage of the competition. Messi and Co. are almost certain to triumph over the Asian squad. Argentina will then meet Mexico, a formidable North American team, in the Lusail Iconic Stadium on November 26. On the same day, Saudi Arabia will play Poland in a match that will be crucial in determining who will finish second in the group if Argentina performs as predicted. Argentina's match against Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha on Wednesday, November 30 will either be a game they must win or a rest day. Saudi Arabia will have the chance to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 28 years if they do have something to play for in their matchup against Mexico on the same day at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia World Cup record Argentina has made 18 appearances so far in the World Cup with the first one in 1930. The Argentines have won two FIFA World Cups, in 1978 and 1986. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made 6 appearances with the first one in 1994. Their best result came in 1994, reaching the Round of 16. Argentina vs Saudi Arabia predicted lineup Argentina (4-3-3): E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, L Martinez, Acuna; Rodriguez, Paredes, Fernandez; Messi, L Martinez, Di Maria Saudi Arabia (4-5-1): Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Al-Amri, Al-Shahrani; Al-Najei, Kanno, Al-Malki; Asiri, Al-Brikan, Al-Daswari Argentina vs Saudi Arabia will face off at the FIFA World Cup 2022 matchday 1 encounter on Tuesday, November 22. The match will kick-off at 3:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM localtime at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail. Prediction Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia: 3-1

FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia match preview, prediction, fantasy tips and lineup

When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi &amp; Co were heavily favoured to run riot. However, it seemed like no one gave Saudi Arabia the script as the Asian powerhouse produced a performance to remember with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari guiding them to the most memorable win in their history.

RECORDS AND CONTROVERSIES

With a forward line boasting of mega stars like Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina had no difficulties in controlling the game from the very first kick. They kept attacking the Saudi defense with quick passing and the breakthrough finally came as Saud Abdulhamid wrestling Leandro Parades to the ground inside the penalty area. Messi had no difficulties in opening the account for his side and becoming the first Argentine player to score four goals in four World Cups.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saudi-arabia-pull-off-massive-upset-stun-lionel-messis-argentina-2-1-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536465">Saudi Arabia pull off massive upset, stun Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in FIFA World Cup 2022</a>

However, it was the penalty decision was not without its controversies. It once again sparked the VAR’s inconsistency when it comes to deciding penalty decisions in case of player scuffles. Portuguese legend Figo compared the foul to a similar one committed against Harry Maguire during England’s game against Iran and even went on to say that it is completely fair in a “contact sport”.

TRAPPED AT THE BACK

The goal further bolstered Argentina’s confidence and over the next 30 minutes, the ball ended up in the Saudi net three times. However, none of them officially counted as the Argentine attackers were judged offside every time. While the press from Argentina seemed almost constant, Saudi Arabia stuck to the strategy that has become a trademark of manager Herve Renard.

Despite conceding an early goal, the four Saudi defenders - Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi and Yasser Al-Shahrani – kept holding a very high line and that meant the opposition forwards were constantly kept in doubt regarding their positioning at the start of an attack. The plan worked as Argentina were left frustrated as they were caught offside eight times within 45 minutes.

TEN MINUTES OF GENIUS

With Argentina going all out for the second goal, the Saudi attackers started finding spaces against the full backs Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico. There were a couple of tame attempts in the first half, but Al Hilal striker Shehri suddenly found himself in an advantageous position against center back Christian Romero. The striker successfully went past Romero from the left and a well-placed shot was enough to beat Emiliano Martinez and spark wild celebrations among the fans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-for-lionel-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-a-final-shot-at-immortality-536177">Opinion | FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality</a>

The Saudi fans seemed to have found their voice for the first time in the game and the sound almost felt like a catalyst for their national&nbsp;team. Five minutes later, the unthinkable happened. Dawsari received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and was able to dodge past two Argentina defenders. With De Paul lunging for a tackle, he took a curling right foot shot and as if in slow motion, it sailed past Martinez’s outstretched hands and landed in the bottom corner of the goal.

OVERDEPENDANCE AND PURE GRIT

This was not supposed to happen, and Argentina seemed totally unprepared for this situation. The overdependence on the attacking trio meant that nearly all attacks had a set pattern and with Saudi players sitting deep, almost all passings channels were affected. Both Paredes and De Paul failed to make proper runs into the Saudi penalty box and although the introduction of Marcos Acuna in place of Tagliafico did boost the wing play, Argentina faced a new challenge - Mohammed Al-Owais.

The Saudi goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half despite Argentina launching multiple attacks. Officially, the first shot on goal for Argentina came just before the 60-minute mark in the game if we do not count Messi’s penalty. The compact setting on the central defence meant that Argentina were forced to rely mainly on crosses and headers to attack his goal but Al-Owais was up to the challenge. Both Messi and substitute Julian Alvarez had chances to level the score towards the end of the match, but the Saudi goalkeeper held his ground and ended up making four crucial saves.

It was, by no stretch, a bad performance by Argentina. However, in front of the discipline and grit of Saudi Arabia, Messi and Co seemed almost clueless while trying to come up a viable Plan B.

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When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi & Co were heavily favoured to run riot.

When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi & Co were heavily favoured to run riot. However, it seemed like no one gave Saudi Arabia the script as the Asian powerhouse produced a performance to remember with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari guiding them to the most memorable win in their history. RECORDS AND CONTROVERSIES With a forward line boasting of mega stars like Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina had no difficulties in controlling the game from the very first kick. They kept attacking the Saudi defense with quick passing and the breakthrough finally came as Saud Abdulhamid wrestling Leandro Parades to the ground inside the penalty area. Messi had no difficulties in opening the account for his side and becoming the first Argentine player to score four goals in four World Cups. Also read | Saudi Arabia pull off massive upset, stun Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in FIFA World Cup 2022 However, it was the penalty decision was not without its controversies. It once again sparked the VAR’s inconsistency when it comes to deciding penalty decisions in case of player scuffles. Portuguese legend Figo compared the foul to a similar one committed against Harry Maguire during England’s game against Iran and even went on to say that it is completely fair in a “contact sport”. TRAPPED AT THE BACK The goal further bolstered Argentina’s confidence and over the next 30 minutes, the ball ended up in the Saudi net three times. However, none of them officially counted as the Argentine attackers were judged offside every time. While the press from Argentina seemed almost constant, Saudi Arabia stuck to the strategy that has become a trademark of manager Herve Renard. Despite conceding an early goal, the four Saudi defenders - Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi and Yasser Al-Shahrani – kept holding a very high line and that meant the opposition forwards were constantly kept in doubt regarding their positioning at the start of an attack. The plan worked as Argentina were left frustrated as they were caught offside eight times within 45 minutes. TEN MINUTES OF GENIUS With Argentina going all out for the second goal, the Saudi attackers started finding spaces against the full backs Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico. There were a couple of tame attempts in the first half, but Al Hilal striker Shehri suddenly found himself in an advantageous position against center back Christian Romero. The striker successfully went past Romero from the left and a well-placed shot was enough to beat Emiliano Martinez and spark wild celebrations among the fans. Also read | Opinion | FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality The Saudi fans seemed to have found their voice for the first time in the game and the sound almost felt like a catalyst for their national team. Five minutes later, the unthinkable happened. Dawsari received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and was able to dodge past two Argentina defenders. With De Paul lunging for a tackle, he took a curling right foot shot and as if in slow motion, it sailed past Martinez’s outstretched hands and landed in the bottom corner of the goal. OVERDEPENDANCE AND PURE GRIT This was not supposed to happen, and Argentina seemed totally unprepared for this situation. The overdependence on the attacking trio meant that nearly all attacks had a set pattern and with Saudi players sitting deep, almost all passings channels were affected. Both Paredes and De Paul failed to make proper runs into the Saudi penalty box and although the introduction of Marcos Acuna in place of Tagliafico did boost the wing play, Argentina faced a new challenge - Mohammed Al-Owais. The Saudi goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half despite Argentina launching multiple attacks. Officially, the first shot on goal for Argentina came just before the 60-minute mark in the game if we do not count Messi’s penalty. The compact setting on the central defence meant that Argentina were forced to rely mainly on crosses and headers to attack his goal but Al-Owais was up to the challenge. Both Messi and substitute Julian Alvarez had chances to level the score towards the end of the match, but the Saudi goalkeeper held his ground and ended up making four crucial saves. It was, by no stretch, a bad performance by Argentina. However, in front of the discipline and grit of Saudi Arabia, Messi and Co seemed almost clueless while trying to come up a viable Plan B.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Offside traps and pure grit - How Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina and the world

In a $4 billion golf and real estate development project in neighbouring Oman, a Saudi real estate company has partnered with the Trump Organization, according to a stock market filing released on Sunday.

The Dar Al Arkan Global Company deal, which involves a division of the Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, comes at a time of increased hostilities between the Saudi government and the US administration of US President Joe Biden, who has a less cordial relationship with Saudi leaders than the previous administration of Donald Trump did.

The project includes "Trump residential villas, a hotel, and a golf course", according to the filing, adding that it will be "developed over 10 years on an area of 3.5 million square meters".&nbsp;

It "is being developed with the support of the Omani Company for Development and Tourism (Omran), the&nbsp;executive arm of the Sultanate of Oman for tourism development," the filing said.

Trump, who stated this week that he will run for&nbsp;election in 2024, started his first international tour in Saudi Arabia after taking office in 2017.

Also WATCH |&nbsp;Twitter's new owner Elon Musk restores Donald Trump's Twitter account

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The following year, he declined to denounce Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, for the assassination of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the country's consulate in Istanbul.

While Saudi officials dispute Biden's assertion, the US intelligence agency claimed that Prince Mohammed had given the go-ahead for the operation to target Khashoggi.

The disagreement between Washington and Riyadh is related to the OPEC+ oil cartel's decision to limit output by two million barrels per day last month. The White House has criticised this decision and compared it to "aligning with Russia" in the conflict in Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-presidential-run-and-the-legal-challenges-that-hound-him-534994">Explained: Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run and the legal challenges that hound him</a>

While this has been happening, former top Trump administration officials have remained close to the Saudis.

Steven Mnuchin, a former treasury secretary, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and former top advisor, attended a prestigious investment meeting in the Saudi capital in October.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at a Trump-owned hotel in Washington while Trump was in office, according to a report last week from a US congressional committee.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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In a $4 billion golf and real estate development project in neighbouring Oman, a Saudi real estate company has partnered with the Trump Organization, according to a stock market filing released on Sunday.

In a $4 billion golf and real estate development project in neighbouring Oman, a Saudi real estate company has partnered with the Trump Organization, according to a stock market filing released on Sunday. The Dar Al Arkan Global Company deal, which involves a division of the Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, comes at a time of increased hostilities between the Saudi government and the US administration of US President Joe Biden, who has a less cordial relationship with Saudi leaders than the previous administration of Donald Trump did. The project includes "Trump residential villas, a hotel, and a golf course", according to the filing, adding that it will be "developed over 10 years on an area of 3.5 million square meters". It "is being developed with the support of the Omani Company for Development and Tourism (Omran), the executive arm of the Sultanate of Oman for tourism development," the filing said. Trump, who stated this week that he will run for election in 2024, started his first international tour in Saudi Arabia after taking office in 2017. Also WATCH | Twitter's new owner Elon Musk restores Donald Trump's Twitter account The following year, he declined to denounce Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, for the assassination of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the country's consulate in Istanbul. While Saudi officials dispute Biden's assertion, the US intelligence agency claimed that Prince Mohammed had given the go-ahead for the operation to target Khashoggi. The disagreement between Washington and Riyadh is related to the OPEC+ oil cartel's decision to limit output by two million barrels per day last month. The White House has criticised this decision and compared it to "aligning with Russia" in the conflict in Ukraine. Also read | Explained: Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run and the legal challenges that hound him While this has been happening, former top Trump administration officials have remained close to the Saudis. Steven Mnuchin, a former treasury secretary, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and former top advisor, attended a prestigious investment meeting in the Saudi capital in October. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at a Trump-owned hotel in Washington while Trump was in office, according to a report last week from a US congressional committee. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump and Saudi company collaborate on Oman golf project

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has arrived to Doha to attend the 2022 Qatar World Cup's opening ceremony on Sunday

Saudi crown prince in Qatar for World Cup opening ceremony

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