The Prince of Wales has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit requested by the British government, aiming to strengthen ties with the key Middle Eastern ally. He is being hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a controversial figure in the West due to human rights allegations and links to the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
William was greeted at King Khalid International Airport by the deputy governor of Riyadh before being escorted to the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif in Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi Kingdom. There, he toured the mud-brick city and later held talks with the crown prince, followed by a private dinner around a fire featuring traditional lamb.
Ahead of the trip, William and his wife issued a statement expressing concern over revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has affected his uncle, Prince Andrew. The statement was intended to allow William to focus on the visit.
Amnesty International has urged William to raise the case of British national Ahmed al-Doush, sentenced to 10 years in Saudi prison over tweets from 2018. The crown prince is driving the Vision 2030 modernisation plan, which aims to diversify the economy and empower women, though human rights groups remain critical.
