Shehbaz Sharif Arrives in Riyadh to Strengthen Ties with SA

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The prime minister is accompanied by senior cabinet members. According to the Foreign Office, the visit focuses on enhancing cooperation in various sectors and deepening strategic ties between the two brotherly nations.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to discuss regional and global developments, and to review the full scope of Pakistan–Saudi relations.

“The visit is expected to formalise cooperation in multiple fields,” the Foreign Office said, highlighting the long-standing relationship based on shared faith, values, and mutual trust.

PM Shehbaz has made several visits to the Kingdom since taking office. In October 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 34 MoUs to strengthen private sector and commercial collaboration.

This marks his third visit to Saudi Arabia in 2025. Previous visits in March and June focused on trade, investment, and regional diplomacy.

Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz also met MBS on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha, held after Israeli airstrikes in Qatar. Both leaders discussed the emerging situation, with PM Shehbaz expressing Pakistan’s full support in multilateral forums including the UN and OIC.

Crown Prince MBS praised Pakistan’s strong diplomatic role and solidarity with Qatar during the crisis.