RIYADH, July, 5: In the lead-up to the release of a UN report focusing on mass child casualties in the Yemen conflict, the Saudi-led coalition that has largely been blamed for those deaths is already contesting the results of the report, some of which were leaked to the press late last month.

VOLGOGRAD, June25: Saudi Arabia pulled off a last-gasp 2-1 win over Egypt as the two sides departed from the tournament on Monday, adding to the misery of Egypt’s prolific striker Mohamed Salah and giving the Saudis their first victory at a World Cup since 1994.

MOSCOW, June 14: Finally let loose after a year-long diet of international friendlies, hosts Russia roared their World Cup intent to the rafters on Thursday with a 5-0 tournament-opening win over Saudi Arabia.

A resurgent Saudi Arabia could take a major step towards ending their decade-long exile from the World Cup finals if they can beat Asian champions Australia in a crunch qualifier at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

RIYADH, May 21: President Donald Trump basked in Saudi Arabia’s lavish royal welcome Saturday as he left behind, at least temporarily, the snowballing controversies dogging him in Washington. Trump rewarded his hosts with a $110 billion arms package aimed at bolstering Saudi security and a slew of business agreements.

CAIRO, June 22: An Egyptian court on Tuesday struck down an agreement to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, delivering a rare rebuke to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government over a decision that sparked the biggest street protests of his two-year rule.