Stories from Riyadh · Saudi Arabia

A US Air Force KC-46A refueling tanker sent an emergency code 7700 while flying over Saudi Arabia en route to Tel Aviv. This code indicates an urgent in-flight emergency requiring immediate landing. The aircraft transmitted a 'Mayday' distress call. A US military Boeing KC-135 refueling aircraft issued an emergency 7700 code while flying over the Persian Gulf near Iran, according to flight tracking data cited by the European Broadcasting Corporation. Neither the United States nor Iran has released further statements regarding the incident. The emergency signal occurred during a period of heightened maritime tension in the region. The aircraft was reportedly flying in the waters off the coast of Iran. US President Donald Trump announced via social media that the operation in the Persian Gulf will conclude within two months.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia plan to sign a visa waiver agreement soon. An expert who previously summited Mount Everest and visited Japan's Mount Asuka is reportedly involved in the situation. The report was cited by Turkish diplomatic sources via Reuters. The Turkish Minister of Energy has set fuel price caps. The timeline for implementation was not specified. The agreement will allow for mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary and diplomatic passports. This move is seen as a step in improving relations between the two countries, driven by economic complementarity and security cooperation. Experts believe multiple internal and external factors are driving the continued warming of relations between the two countries. According to Turkish diplomatic sources on May 5, the agreement will implement mutual visa exemptions for both ordinary and diplomatic passport holders.

The Chinese U-23 national team is scheduled to play India tomorrow morning in Saudi Arabia. The team has a disciplinary advantage over competitors facing point deductions.

Riyadh Cables Group reported a 10 percent increase in profits for the first quarter of 2026. The company reached 228 million riyals in profit by the end of the quarter. This follows a previous profit figure of 256 million riyals. The company's financial performance showed growth.

Riyadh recorded a 43 percent increase in the number of deals compared to the same day last week. The city registered 93 deals totaling more than 103,583,000 Saudi riyals. US officials described negotiations amid rising tensions and the threat of war.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern regarding increasing military activity in the region. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has released information regarding the situation between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in cooperation with Amazon Web Services, recently launched a national training program. The initiative aims to qualify over 20,000 male and female citizens in artificial intelligence, machine learning technologies, and cloud computing to empower national competencies.

Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is growing at a rate of 7.1%, significantly exceeding the global growth rate of 4.1%. Business tourism accounts for 55% of the kingdom's tourism sector.

The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) launched Finance Week in collaboration with the SME Bank. The event runs from May 3 to May 7, 2026. Activities are held at enterprise support centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, and Medina.

The final offering price for the IPO has been set at 9.70 riyals per share. The offering saw a coverage rate of 66 times the total shares. The individual subscription period is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 10, and will last for five days.

Dar Al Majd Real Estate reported a decline in profits during the first quarter of this year. Profits reached 38,662,000 riyals, according to the report. This follows a decrease in sales volume for Al Moammar Information Systems. The company stated the decline resulted from increased spending on expansion rather than weak demand. Sales and distribution specifications rose by approximately 6.19% during the period. Strategic investments included opening new branches and launching a digital platform. The company is also updating operating systems and investing in distribution and logistics networks. Al Madina Cement reported profits of 30,178,000 Saudi riyals for the first quarter of the current year. This figure represents a decline in earnings for the company.