2024 in Saudi Arabia

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See also:	Other events of 2024 History of Saudi Arabia

Events in the year 2024 in Saudi Arabia .

Incumbents

Photo	Post	Name
	King of Saudi Arabia	Salman of Saudi Arabia
	Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia	Mohammad bin Salman

Events

January

• January 1 – Saudi Arabia formally joins the BRICS group. ^[1]
• January 9 – Women's rights activist and influencer Manahel al-Otaibi is convicted of terrorism charges for tweeting about ending the system of male guardianship in the country and sentenced to 11 years in prison. ^[2]
• January 24 – Saudi Arabia, where alcohol has been banned since 1952, opens its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh. ^[3]

March

• March 8 – Anthony Joshua holds a boxing match against Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. ^[4]

May

• May 24 – 2024 Cannes Film Festival: Norah becomes the first film from Saudi Arabia to screen as part of the official calendar at the Cannes Film Festival. ^[5]

June

• 14–19 June – 2024 Hajj disaster: At least 1,301 pilgrims die from heat-related causes during the Hajj in Mecca according to figures released by various countries. This is the worst in the history of the Hajj. ^[6]

July

• 12 July – The International Olympic Committee announce that Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympics Esports Games in 2025. ^[7]
• 18 July – Saudia group and Lilium GmbH signed a binding sales agreement for 50 electric Lilium Jets, with options for the purchase of 50 more. ^[8]
• July 26–August 11 – Saudi Arabia at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

August

• 9 August – The Biden administration partially lifts a three-year-old ban on US weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. ^[9]

December

• 1 December – The first three lines of the Riyadh Metro begin operations. ^[10]
• 11 December – Saudi Arabia wins the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. ^[11]
• 23 December – Saudi Arabia reopens its embassy in Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban takeover in 2021. ^[12]

See also

• Saudi Arabia portal
• Current events portal
• Asia portal
• Modern history portal

• Saudi Arabia
• History of Saudi Arabia
• Outline of Saudi Arabia

References

1. "Iran joins BRICS group formally in 2024". Tehran Times. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
2. "Manahel al-Otaibi: Saudi women's rights activist jailed for 11 years". BBC News. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
3. Turak, Natasha (2024-01-24). "Saudi Arabia opens its first-ever alcohol store — but it's only accessible to a select group". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
4. Morse, Ben (2024-03-08). "Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: former world champion faces MMA star with future title fight potentially on the line". CNN . Retrieved 2024-03-08.
5. "Saudi film 'Norah' makes history with Cannes Film Festival screening". Arab News. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
6. "Relatives search for missing in Saudi Arabia as hajj death toll tops 900". France 24. 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
7. "Saudi Arabia to host 1st Olympics Esports Games". ESPN.com. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
8. Wolfsteller, Pilar (2024-07-18). "Saudia firms order for up to 100 Lilium Jets". Flight Global. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
9. "US to lift ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia". Reuters . August 10, 2024.
10. "All aboard: Riyadh Metro kicks off first phase operations". al-Arabiya . December 1, 2024.
11. "FIFA names Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host; Spain, Portugal and Morocco to co-host 2030 edition". Associated Press . December 11, 2024.
12. "Afghanistan welcomes Saudi Arabia's decision to reopen embassy in Kabul". Associated Press. 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-24.