LONDON: Washington’s warm welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has cast a rosy glow over the US and Saudi Arabia’s “strong relationship’’ and looks likely to raise US President Donald Trump’s standing in the Kingdom still further, say analysts.
Deals struck during the trip are expected to deepen the ties developed during Trump’s first year in office, building on the positive reception he received during his visit to Saudi Arabia in May last year.
“Even frank conversations … about hard topics are unlikely to dampen the strong relationship between the two countries,” said Becca Wasser, a Middle East policy analyst at the US think tank Rand.
While the red carpet rolled out for the crown prince has not quite matched the “glitz and glamor” of Trump’s Riyadh reception, there has been no shortage of friendly overtures from the White House.
Trump’s trip last year prompted a surge in support for the US president in the Kingdom, with 57 percent of participants saying the visit had strengthened US-Saudi ties, while 23 percent said they would vote for Trump if given the chance, according to a YouGov survey.
The study revealed a 15-point increase in support compared with a previous poll conducted by YouGov and Arab News in October 2016, when only 8 percent of Saudis said they would choose Trump as US president.
“There is no doubting that the popularity of President Trump in Saudi Arabia is significant. This is exactly why Mohammed bin Salman headed to Washington to reinforce his plans for Vision 2030,” said Andrew Campbell, managing director of Brand Finance Middle East.
“In our Brand Finance Nation Brands report, Saudi Arabia ranked as the 22nd most valuable brand globally and it is precisely this global influence that the Trump administration is looking to leverage,” he said.
Riding on the back of a rewarding trip to London earlier this month, the crown prince was looking to “mirror that same success in the United States,” Wasser said.
Saudi officials see greater accord with team Trump than with previous administrations, observers said.
“Among policymakers, (Trump) has been welcomed as a clear change from his predecessor, and someone whose background as a larger-than-life real estate developer they could much more easily relate to, unlike President Obama, where there was no personal chemistry or mutual understanding,” said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Middle East Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute.
Since taking office, the US president has won over many in the Kingdom, who see him as a “firm supporter of Saudi Arabia” and an ally on “critical issues of mutual interest,” said Gerald Feierstein, director for Gulf affairs and government relations at the Middle East Institute.
“Saudi Arabia has been eager to show it is open for business and that includes attracting more US investment — in line with broader goals to increase FDI share in GDP enshrined in Vision 2030,” said Maya Senussi, senior Middle East economist at Oxford Economics.
Strategic challenges in the region, particularly Iran, have also featured in the latest talks. The US and Saudi Arabia remain broadly aligned on the challenges posed by the Iranian regime and the need to curtail its widening reach across the Middle East.
However, the Trump administration has so far failed to follow through on its tough talk over Iran and the nuclear deal remains in place. The US has also disappointed Saudi expectations over its response to the Qatar boycott. Trump’s tweets initially endorsed Saudi Arabia’s position, but US approval for firmer action has since been withheld.
The US president’s tendency to detour on policy positions has put many Middle East governments on their guard, Ulrichsen said. While Saudi officials had “high hopes” when Trump took office, his record since has been “somewhat underwhelming.”
Dr. Christopher Davidson, Middle East politics professor at Durham University, said the Saudi perspective on Trump was “very wary,” although the recent ousting of Rex Tillerson — an unpopular figure in the Kingdom — as US secretary of state would have scored well with many in Saudi Arabia.
“The issues are perhaps more with the rest of US government rather than necessarily Trump himself. I would say with the firing of Rex Tillerson, one of the stumbling blocks is gone,” Senussi said.
“Like other countries, Saudi Arabia has struggled to keep pace with some of the changes in the Trump administration during its first year as well as contradictory statements from senior members of the administration. Such discrepancies are concerning for US partners, such as Saudi Arabia, and difficult for them to manage,” said Wasser.
However, she said the administration’s “unwavering support” for Saudi policies, in particular the reform program being rolled out by the crown prince, holds true and “undoubtedly shapes the view of President Trump from Riyadh.”
Trump rolls out the red carpet for ‘firm ally’
Trump rolls out the red carpet for ‘firm ally’
Sneakerheads from around world descend on Riyadh for Sneaker Con 2026
- Capital’s edition highlights Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in global lifestyle, pop culture scene
Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital, transforming Cool Arena at Boulevard City this week into a vibrant meeting point for youngsters in search of streetwear and collectibles.
The event, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, is known for gathering collectors, resellers, brands, influencers, and fans under one roof, and its Riyadh edition highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in the global lifestyle and pop culture scene.
It featured a large-scale marketplace in which visitors could buy, sell and trade rare and limited-edition sneakers, supported by authentication services that ensured credibility and trust in a market driven by exclusivity.
Beyond commerce, the event offered panel discussions, live DJ sets, interactive challenges, art installations and appearances by regional and international creators, capturing the broader street culture that surrounds sneakers.
Free to attend with prior registration and running daily from late afternoon into the night, the event formed part of the wider Riyadh Season calendar, reinforcing the city’s ambition to host world-class cultural experiences that resonate with a young, creative and globally connected audience.
International brands from across the globe were among the standout participants. Puerto Rican brand We Got Kicks made its presence felt, with representative Jorge Andres highlighting the brand’s enthusiasm for entering the Saudi market.
Andres said the invitation to Riyadh marked an important milestone, and he told Arab News: “We really want to bring our brand to Saudi Arabia and raise awareness. Everyone here is very nice, and people genuinely care.”
Another major draw was Urban Necessities, a globally recognized consignment shop known for sourcing hard-to-find sneakers.
Jaysse Lopez, one of the brand’s founders, shared his journey and strong connection to Saudi Arabia. Originally from Puerto Rico and now based in Las Vegas, Lopez explained that Urban Necessities focused on rare pieces not commonly found in mainstream retail.
He said: “Urban Necessities is a consignment shop that focuses on all the things you don’t see every day: the hard-to-find sneakers. It’s for all walks of life.”
Lopez noted that the brand has been present in Riyadh for nearly three years, with a store in Boulevard City, and had played a role in helping bring Sneaker Con to the Kingdom.
Speaking about popular collaborations, he highlighted the continued demand for Travis Scott releases.
“He has a very big following, and his collaborations with Nike and Jordan always sell out,” Lopez said. “The demand is extremely high.”
Reflecting on his visits to the Kingdom, Lopez described Saudi Arabia as a place of rapid change and opportunity, and added: “This is my third time here. It’s amazing to see how much has changed in just one year, and over the three years I’ve been coming.
“The people are kind, the culture is beautiful, and it gets harder to leave every time.”
Regional participation was also strong. From Qatar, sneaker brand Size Run took part in the event, represented by Hussain Nabeel, who described the experience as overwhelmingly positive.
Nabeel said: “From the first day it was fantastic for us. We are very happy to be here and to show everyone who Size Run is.”
He added that the brand aimed at strengthening connections across the Gulf, saying: “We have online platforms, and we can ship to Saudi Arabia for free.”
Local Saudi businesses also used Sneaker Con as a platform. Siraja, a Saudi brand specializing in customized apparel and brand development, highlighted its locally based production capabilities.
Waleed Al-Khaled, representing the brand, said the company’s mission was to support aspiring entrepreneurs, and added: “Anyone who wants to start a business and doesn’t know how to, we are here to help — from design to production, all made in Riyadh.”
By attracting international, regional, and local players, Sneaker Con Riyadh underscored the Kingdom’s growing influence in global sneaker and streetwear culture.
The event served as a cultural exchange, reflecting how Riyadh is positioning itself as a hub where global trends meet local creativity.
