Prince William will carry out his first official visit to Saudi Arabia next month at the request of the UK Government, Kensington Palace revealed today.
A royal spokesman said: ‘At the request of His Majesty’s Government, the Prince of Wales will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th February.
‘His Royal Highness’ visit comes as the UK and Saudi Arabia celebrate growing trade, energy and investment ties, and as the two nations approach a century of diplomatic relations.
‘This will be His Royal Highness’ first official visit to Saudi Arabia. Further details will be advised in due course.’
While the Prince of Wales has not been to Saudi Arabia before, he has previously visited neighbouring countries the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
His visit will come 14 months after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Riyadh to meet Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in December 2024.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also led a UK delegation to Saudi Arabia in October last year to make progress on a trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The Prince of Wales visits the National Curling Academy in Stirling yesterday
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on December 9, 2024
Chancellor Rachel Reeves led a UK delegation to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on October 28, 2025
The UK Government has previously raised concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and in 2020 sanctioned 20 Saudi nationals involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
When the Prime Minister first met the Crown Prince in 2024, Sir Keir was accused of putting efforts to kickstart economic growth above human rights concerns.
The country has also faced criticism and accusations of ‘sportswashing’ – investing in sporting events such as the World Cup, which it will host in 2034, to distract from alleged wrongdoing and present a favourable image.
Sir Keir’s Government has strengthened its relationship, with recent Saudi visits by the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary.
William’s tour to the country will be his first official overseas visit of 2026 and his first to the Middle East since his 2023 trip to Kuwait to pay his condolences following the death of Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, its former ruling emir.
The Prince of Wales has also visited the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
The announcement comes after the Prince and Princess of Wales tried their hand at curling while visiting the National Curling Academy in Stirling on a joint day of engagements yesterday.
Kate and William met Team GB and Paralympic GB curling teams ahead of the Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina in February and March.
Afterwards the couple went to the charity Radical Weavers, which gives those affected by trauma and loss the opportunity to learn traditional Scottish tartan-weaving skills in a safe and welcoming environment.
The couple ended their trip to Stirling with a visit to The Gothenburg, a community-run pub in the former mining village of Fallon.
