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Saudi Arabia reforms

Rabbi Jacob Yisrael Herzog in Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, November 2021. (Courtesy)
December 25, 2025, 6:34 am
Self-appointed chief rabbi of Saudi Arabia says he was denied entry at border
Rabbi Jacob Herzog, who splits his time between Riyadh and Jerusalem, says he has a valid entry visa, received no explanation for the decision
By Grace Gilson
US President Donald Trump speaks at the Saudi-US Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (AP/Alex Brandon)
May 16, 2025, 12:20 pm
Trump’s Middle East trip goes big on deals and diplomacy, but small on human rights
President told Saudi investment forum US will no longer give Arab states ‘lectures on how to live’; human-rights activists fear implications of that new approach
By Ellen Knickmeyer
Illustrative photo of alcohol bottles (Abir Sultan/Flash90)
January 24, 2024, 5:07 pm
Saudi Arabia set to open 1st liquor store, for non-Muslim envoys
Customers will need to register online to access service in Riyadh, respect monthly limit, in watershed moment for ultra-conservative kingdom
By Aziz El Yaakoubi
US Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, conduct joint strikes on hostile Houthi targets, January 11, 2024 (US Central Command / X)
January 12, 2024, 4:55 pm
Saudi Arabia in ‘tight spot’ as US, UK take on Houthi rebels after weeks of attacks
Experts say Riyadh angling for ceasefire, military exit from Yemen so it can focus on domestic agenda, but situation complicated by Iran-backed Yemeni group’s attacks on shipping
By Robbie COREY-BOULET
Al-Nassr supporters cheer ahead of the unveiling ceremony of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the Mrsool Park Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 3, 2023. (Haitham El-Tabei/AFP)
October 4, 2023, 11:12 pm
Saudi Arabia announces bid to host World Cup in 2034
Kingdom to host FIFA Club World Cup in December, Asian Cup in 2027; sports a major component of crown prince’s Vision 2030 reform agenda
By AFP
Mohammed al-Ghamdi, a retired school teacher sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia in July for posts on X, formerly Twitter. (Twitter screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
September 29, 2023, 4:20 pm
Relatives of Saudis facing execution urge ‘ashamed’ crown prince to act
After Mohammed bin Salman blames ‘bad laws’ for harsh rulings, brother of man sentenced to death for social media posts says de facto ruler can ‘cancel them’
By AFP
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah on June 7, 2023. (Amer Hilabi/Pool Photo via AP)
June 7, 2023, 10:18 pm
Saudi-PGA golf deal marks dazzling turnaround for former pariah crown prince
MBS accused of ‘sportswashing’ in latest and perhaps most dramatic move by to wield his kingdom’s oil wealth in advancing its economy and influence
By Ellen Knickmeyer
Australia's Sam Kerr (20) scores against Sweden's Nathalie Bjorn (14) during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, November 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
February 1, 2023, 4:38 pm
Women’s soccer World Cup hosts urge FIFA not to sign Saudi sponsor
Officials in Australia and New Zealand, co-hosts of July tournament, cite Gulf state’s poor women’s rights record in joint letter to the sport’s governing body
By Graham Dunbar
Al-Nassr supporters cheer ahead of the unveiling ceremony of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the Mrsool Park Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 3, 2023. (Haitham El-Tabei/AFP)
January 5, 2023, 8:37 pm
Saudi Arabia gets first female international soccer referee
FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, accredits Anoud Al-Asmari with international refereeing badge as opportunities for women in ultra-conservative kingdom continue to grow
By AFP
David Shuker in a 2022 interview with Chanel 13 (Screnshot)
October 15, 2022, 4:27 am
Israeli born in Saudi Arabia implores king to allow him to visit before he dies
David Shuker grew up in small Jewish community in Najran that dissolved in 1948 amid regime hostility; ‘I want to visit the place where I was born. I came from the dirt of Najran’
By ToI Staff
A Saudi woman exercises by pole dancing at a local gymnasium in the capital Riyadh, October 1, 2022. (Fayez NURELDINE/AFP)
October 11, 2022, 9:06 am
Saudi women embrace pole dancing amid kingdom’s social reforms
At least 3 gyms now offering pole dancing in Riyadh, though activity remains tainted by association with seedy strip clubs and burlesque houses depicted in Hollywood
By Rania Sanjar
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, center, participates in a working session with US President Joe Biden at the Al Salman Royal Palace, July 15, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
September 27, 2022, 3:32 am
Saudi Arabia reclaims the West’s embrace as Khashoggi killing fades
In a triumphant week, Riyadh brokers Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap, holds UN summit, hosts German chancellor and talks energy with White House, but human rights pushed aside
By Aya Batrawy
Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Salman talks at the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE about his 1985 experience as the first Arab and Muslim to travel to space aboard NASA's Discovery shuttle, March 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Aya Batrawy, File)
September 22, 2022, 5:50 pm
Saudi Arabia announces plans to send female astronaut to space
Kingdom seeks to accomplish goal by 2023; part of ‘Vision 2030’ initiative to overhaul economy, reduce oil dependency and further integrate women into workforce
By AP
A woman takes pictures of a skeleton model seated at her table at the horror-themed 'Shadows' restaurant in the Saudi capital Riyadh's Boulevard entertainment city, January 19, 2022. (Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
January 27, 2022, 1:11 pm
In Riyadh, dining with the undead
Saudi restaurant ‘Shadows’ caters to horror film buffs with strong stomachs, allowing them to savor their dishes while staff in gory costumes put on interactive shows
By Haitham el-Tabei
Beachgoers play at floating blow-up water park, at Pure Beach in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia, on September 17, 2021 (Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
October 16, 2021, 6:08 am
Sun, sea and the opposite sex as Saudi Arabia slowly loosens up
At Pure Beach near Jeddah, there is music, dancing and an inflatable water park, while some women even wear once unthinkable bikinis
By Haitham el-Tabei
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