Saudi Arabia

10 May 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is planning to transform Islam's second holiest city of Madinah into a "modern Islamic and cultural destination" according to a report yesterday by Arab News.

11 May 2023; MEMO: Two days after Syria was reinstated to the Arab League at its meeting in Cairo, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, on Tuesday, that the Kingdom will resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry added in its statement said that resuming the diplomatic mission's work in Syria is based on the brotherly ties that unite the Saudi and Syrian peoples and reflects keenness to contribute to developing joint Arab action.

9 May 2023; MEMO: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on Tuesday, strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip, Anadolu News Agency reports.

At least 13 Palestinians were killed and 20 others injured in Israeli air raids on the coastal territory early Tuesday, according to the Health Ministry. The fatalities included four children and four women.

08 May 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia pledged on Sunday to provide $100 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan and announced the organisation of a national campaign to collect donations, Anadolu news agency reported.

More than 550 people have been killed and thousands injured in fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group since April 15, according to Sudan's Health Ministry.

06 May 2023; MEMO: Representatives of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group began their first face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, the talks between the two military rivals were held in the city of Jeddah.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia and the US welcomed the start of the "pre-negotiation talks" between the two conflicting parties to end their fighting that has killed hundreds.

06 May 2023; MEMO: United Nations (UN) experts have expressed alarm at a planned execution of three nationals from the Al-Howeitat tribe in Saudi Arabia over the tribes' rejection of the NEOM project, urging authorities to halt the process.

04 May 2023; MEMO: Argentinian football player, Lionel Messi, is reportedly in talks to joi the Saudi Pro League for an annual contract worth $400 million.

According to the Telegraph, Saudi Arabia is preparing the offer as Messi is set to leave France's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) club and become a free agent this summer.

04 May 2023; MEMO: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its member states are set to implement a unified visa for tourists and businesspeople from dozens of countries, in an initiative comparable to the European Union's Schengen zone visa.

03 May 2023; MEMO: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) plans to send a high-level delegation to Sudan for talks on the situation in the conflict-torn country, Anadolu News Agency reports.

At least 550 people have been killed and more than 4,900 injured in fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since 15 April, according to Sudan's Health Ministry.

01 May 2023; MEMO: During a five-day campaign, Saudi authorities seized 16.9 million narcotic amphetamine and Captagon pills, Saudi media reported on Sunday.

The authorities conducted the campaign between 25 April and 29 April – immediately after the Eid Al Fitr holiday – in various regions and governorates across the Kingdom.