Relations between Saudi Arabia and the US have deteriorated due to disagreement over the kingdom's initial refusal to let Washington use its bases for an anti-Iran offensive.

A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed, reportedly killing 14 Saudi Arabian nationals. 

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call on Wednesday to discuss regional developments.

A proposed trade and transport corridor being advanced by Turkey and Saudi Arabia has raised concerns in Israeli-occupied territories, amid increasingly strained relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.

About 1.8M pilgrims head to Mount Arafat at peak of annual Islamic ritual of Hajj pilgrimage.

Mina is also known as the sacred tent city of Hajj where millions of pilgrims stay during key days of worship.

Saudi Arabia has halted new contracts for Western consultancies and delayed payments as the kingdom struggles with a ballooning budget deficit triggered by the war on Iran.