Syrian president receives ‘royal’ welcome in Mecca, enters the Kaaba

Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, made his first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, performing Umrah in Mecca and gaining the rare privilege to enter the Kaaba.

This move suggests a potential shift away from toppled President Bashar al-Assad’s reliance on Iran and Russia. War-ravaged Syria is looking to secure Gulf-based investments to rebuild its economy and repair critical infrastructure.

By choosing Saudi Arabia as his first stop, Al-Sharaa underscores the importance of both political recognition and financial backing from the region’s wealthiest states.