According to the Saudi embassy in New Delhi, the decision was made due to the two nations' strategic relationship and was part of further efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.

India imported 68,600 bpd of Russian oil in March while it increased to 266,617 bpd in the following month and peaked to 942,694 bpd in June. But in June, Iraq was India's top supplier with 1.04 million bpd of oil. In that month, Russia became India's second biggest supplier.

Iran's leadership has repeatedly blamed and warned Saudi Arabia for meddling in their 'internal affairs' and stoking protests using Saudi-backed Farsi language news sites.

The nation announced that it has started an astronaut program (opens in new tab) and intends to send two of its citizens to space — at least one of them a woman — as early as 2023.

Yasser Al-Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, has sent a clear transfer message to legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo amid doubts over his future at Manchester United.

Sita Ramam was released on August 5 in the cinemas, but it's been banned in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The exact reason for the ban is not known.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to rumours, disclosed his intentions for this massive structure in January 2021. The goal of the construction was for Saudi Arabia to have its own "pyramids" along the lines of Egypt's pyramids.

Based on the sighting of the crescent moon, Eid ul-Adha occurs on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah.

Arafah Day is observed on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah and commemorates the finality of Islam's religion and Divine revelation.

Hajj begins on the eighth day and ends on the twelfth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the Islamic calendar's twelfth month.