Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday for a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, reflecting the strategic importance Islamabad attaches to its relationship with the Kingdom.
The high-level delegation also includes Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, already in Saudi Arabia after concluding a visit to Jordan, will join the official engagements.
Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Shehbaz was received by Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq. During the visit, the prime minister will also perform Umrah and visit Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madina.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سعودی ولی عہد و وزیرِ اعظم شیخ محمد بن سلمان بن عبدالعزیز آلسعود کی دعوت پر دورہء سعودی عرب پر جدہ پہنچ گئے ہیں
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 6, 2026
جدہ پہنچنے پر مکہ کے نائب گورنر شہزادہ سعود بن مشال بن عبدالعزیز، سعودی عرب کے وزیرِ زراعت، پانی و ماحولیات عزت مآب انجینیئر عبدالرحمن بن… pic.twitter.com/AdEEdESrmW
According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic and strategic cooperation, and reviewing regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi described the visit as another milestone in the decades-long Pakistan-Saudi partnership, which he said is built on mutual trust, shared interests and close brotherly ties. He added that the visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Gulf but extends beyond the immediate regional situation, aiming to deepen long-term strategic coordination and multilateral cooperation.
🔈 PR No. 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 6, 2026
Curtain Raiser: Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(06-08 August 2026)
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The visit follows Prime Minister Shehbaz’s previous trip to Saudi Arabia in April, when he also met the Kingdom’s leadership to discuss investment, economic collaboration and regional security. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have significantly expanded defence and security cooperation over the past year. Islamabad has endorsed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to safeguard regional stability and has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the Kingdom’s security. Pakistan has also supported Saudi-led initiatives to secure maritime trade routes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, warning that any threat to Pakistani maritime interests would be viewed as a direct challenge to the country’s security.
The two countries further elevated their partnership through a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement concluded last year, which became operational earlier this year. The agreement has strengthened military coordination while complementing Pakistan’s broader diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and stability in the Middle East.
With high-level political, military and diplomatic representation, the latest visit is expected to reinforce Pakistan-Saudi ties across defence, economic cooperation and regional diplomacy, underscoring the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
