2024 in Saudi Arabia

Events

January

• January 1 – Saudi Arabia formally joins the BRICS group.
• 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.
• January 24 – Saudi Arabia, where alcohol has been banned since 1952, opens its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh.

March

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

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.

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.

July

• 12 July – The International Olympic Committee announce that Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympics Esports Games in 2025.
• 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.
• 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.

December

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