This year’s Hajj was conducted in temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F), with a peak of 51.8°C recorded at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on June 17, 2024. The extreme heat was a major contributing factor to the deaths of at least 600 pilgrims, with over 320 of them being Egyptian nationals.
Goldman Sachs has officially obtained a license to establish its regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This comes in response to Saudi Arabia’s recent regulatory changes which mandate that foreign companies set up local headquarters to qualify for government contracts.
Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to construct the world’s inaugural Dragon Ball theme park. The Dragon Ball theme park will be situated in Qiddiya, an entertainment and tourism project near Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has announced the opening of its first alcohol store in Riyadh, a departure from its strict alcohol prohibition laws that have been in place since 1952.
Turkish Super Cup final between Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was called off, attributed to a disagreement over players’ jerseys, has cast a spotlight on the interplay between sports, politics, and national identity.
Saudi Arabia has convened emergency summits in Riyadh, bringing together leaders from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the escalating conflict in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the sole bidder to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as announced by football’s global governing body, FIFA. The decision came after Australia withdrew its interest in hosting the tournament just hours before the bid deadline on October 31, 2023.
On July 30, 2023, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, known as Ma’aden, declared interest in the global mining industry. Ma’aden, in collaboration with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), established Manara Minerals Investment Company as a joint venture to pursue strategic mining investments worldwide.
