Donald Trump attends a state dinner in Doha after announcing a series of deals between the US and Qatar - including a "record" order of Boeing jets
His visit could be seen as an acknowledgement of the role Qatar serves for the US - but the president's business empire also has dealings with the Arab nation, writes our correspondent Anthony Zurcher
Before flying there, Trump met his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, urging him to normalise relations with Israel
On the second leg of a four-day Middle East tour, Trump praised Sharaa as an "attractive guy, tough guy"
He later said it's possible he could fly to Turkey tomorrow to attend talks between Ukraine and Russia
The crown prince mentions the $600bn (£453bn) agreement signed earlier today between the US and Saudi Arabia.
He suggests that this will rise to be worth $1tn in the coming months.
Mohammed bin Salman then lists some aspects of the agreement, which include military and technological elements - and says this will help grow jobs in the kingdom.
Image source, EPAFirst up is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He says "our two friendly countries have deep economic relations" and that they meet today to deepen that partnership.
"Joint investments were one of the most important pillars of our economic relationship," he says.
Image source, Saudi-US Investment ForumDonald Trump has just stepped on stage at the Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh.
He is set to make a leadership address alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
You'll be able to follow along by pressing watch live at the top of the page, and we'll bring you all the key lines here.
Image source, EPAWhile the crowds at the Saudi-US investment forum were waiting for Donald Trump to arrive, his adviser Elon Musk had a brief talk on stage with Saudi Arabian minister Abdullah Alswaha.
Musk was clapped onto the stage, where he spoke about his business exploits and philosophy of "curiosity", before he was thanked by his counterpart.
"With the intelligence age, we could not be more appreciative of having a lifetime partner and a friend like you Elon to the kingdom," Alswaha said.
"Joining hands on X AI, Starlink and Tesla... we look forward to continuing the partnership."
Image source, EBUDonald Trump's motorcade has just pulled up at the venue for the US-Saudi investment summit, where he was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump is due to speak at the event, though it's not clear at what time. We'll update you when we know more.
Sarah Smith
North America editor, reporting from Riyadh
Donald Trump wants to focus on striking financial deals during his Middle East trip, rather than trying to negotiate any major diplomatic agreements.
That’s why he has brought many of America’s top business leaders with him as well as some cabinet members. But he will not be able to avoid some of the most difficult global problems.
The war in Gaza will inevitably arise in discussions. The US president wants to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel - that would be a big diplomatic prize for him - but will not happen without a resolution to the conflict.
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to begin later this week in Turkey, and President Trump has said he may fly on there if his presence “would be helpful”.
And the US is currently engaged in talks with Iran aimed at preventing the development of nuclear weapons.
For a president who promised that he would put “America First” and concentrate on issues at home - not abroad - that is a significant to-do list of foreign affairs.
That's why it is politically important for Donald Trump to finalise some big economic deals that will bring inward investment to the United States and deliver, he hopes, jobs and prosperity for his voters.
Image source, ReutersWe're still unpacking this deal between the US and Saudi Arabia - but we're also waiting to hear from the US president, who is due to speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum.
That's currently taking place in a conference centre in Riyadh, hosting major Saudi and American investors for talks and meetings.
On the event programme, Donald Trump is listed as giving a "leadership address" alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at around 17:05 local time (15:05 BST).
Clearly that's now been delayed - but we'll bring you the latest as and when that happens.
The White House has released more detail about what else is included in the deals signed in Saudi Arabia:
We can bring you more detail now on what the White House is calling the "largest defence sales agreement in history" - nearly $142bn (£107bn).
In a White House press release, the US says the arms sales cover five categories:
The package also includes "extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services", the White House says.
The expectation that the two would sign an arms deal was widely reported ahead of the visit, and follows the resumption of US offensive weapons sales to the Saudis last year.
Image source, ReutersAmong the agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia announced today is "the largest defence sales agreement in history", the White House says.
It adds that the agreement is worth nearly $142bn (£107bn) and includes providing Saudi Arabia with "state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defence firms".
So the VIP-packed lunch is over, and the two leaders have held signed and exchanged a number of agreements. What next?
Now that events in the Saudi Royal Court have wrapped up, the next step in Trump's itinerary is to visit the ongoing Saudi-US Investment Forum at a conference centre in the capital.
Trump is then due to head to Diriyah At-Turaif, a historical area and Unesco world heritage site, on the edge of Riyadh.
While there the president will be hosted at an official state banquet to close out his evening.
Tomorrow morning Trump is due to attend a few more events in Saudi Arabia, before heading to nearby Qatar to continue his tour of the Middle East
Details about what is included in the agreements just signed by Mohammed bin Salman and Donald Trump are minimal at the moment, but here's what we know they include:
For context, in diplomatic terms a memorandum of understanding is a non-binding agreement between nations laying out how they intend to work together on particular issues.
Image source, US NetsWe've just seen Donald Trump leave the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh by motorcade.
Later we expect him to speak at a Saudi-US investment forum.
As we've just been reporting, Donald Trump is taking part in a signing ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In a plush room, the US president and Saudi leader sit at desks, signing the strategic economic partnership agreement. Applause from those watching follows.
Now we move on to the exchange of a stream of bilateral agreements between the two countries.
We'll bring you more details on what the agreements contain as we get them.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesDonald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman have just emerged and are now signing a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.
You can follow along by pressing watch live at the top of the page.
Image source, Getty ImagesSo far we've heard very little about what US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) discussed during their meetings.
During one discussion, the leaders were seated at the end of a long hall, away from reporters who are following the US president on the trip.
But Trump was overhead by White House reporters calling the Saudi crown prince a friend, and saying he believes they have developed a good relationship.
"I really believe we like each other a lot," Trump was heard saying.
The White House reporters add that the US president also recalled visiting Saudi Arabia in 2017 - during his first term in office - and told MBS that investment from the Gulf nation would help create jobs in the US.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Al ArabiyaAl Arabiya TV has aired wall-to-wall coverage of Trump’s arrival
There has been widespread coverage of Trump’s visit in Saudi media, our colleagues at BBC Monitoring report.
The US president's choice of Saudi Arabia as his first stop in his first official tour of his second term reflects the kingdom's "geopolitical weight", Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports.
And, in contrast with his first visit to Riyadh in 2017, the kingdom was no longer in a "subordinate position", but rather has sought a partnership based on "equality", it adds.
The Middle East has seen major shifts since Trump's first visit to Riyadh in 2017 - with the war in Gaza still ongoing, the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, and Houthi maritime attacks in the Red Sea.
The Gulf states have acted as key intermediaries in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and are increasingly positioning themselves as regional leaders and global mediators.
Trump’s son Eric gave an exclusive interview to the leading Saudi daily Asharq al-Awsat this week, in which he said his father considers the Gulf a "key partner", and holds the leaders of Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha in high regard.
"Today, they have a true friend in the White House," he says.
Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent, in Riyadh
A lavish Saudi lunch showcasing the desert kingdom’s cuisine is on the table for some of America’s most powerful politicians, and its most prominent economic and tech leaders - including the likes of Elon Musk, and top executives from Boeing, Google, Amazon, Coca Cola and more.
They’re here because the biggest of deals are on the menu too.
Many billions of dollars in Saudi investment in America is in play, in sectors ranging from aerospace to AI to energy.
There’s no better way to seal a deal than in person. Many of these business leaders will already have met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on their trips to Saudi Arabia - or his to America.
The kingdom is interested in access to the US market, and the most advanced US technology. While America is interested in the opportunities the kingdom can provide.
Their lunch was preceded by a receiving line like no other as President Trump and the crown prince shook hands with one Saudi or US executive after another.
Shaking hands on a deal is what they’re here for.
We've shared with you pictures of some of the well-known faces joining US President Donald Trump's delegation in Saudi Arabia.
Among them are a number of big business figures - including the presidents of Boeing and Google and the chief executives of Amazon and IBM.
Also there are the heads of some major investment companies - including the Blackstone Group and BlackRock.
Saudi Arabia rolled out a lavender carpet for Trump's arrival in Riyadh earlier.
Saudi Arabia changed the colour of their ceremonial carpets from red to lavender in 2021, noting that the colour is inspired by its natural heritage.
However, there are other differences in how leaders have been received.
When former US President Joe Biden visited in 2022, after saying he would make the kingdom a "pariah", the crown prince sent a delegation to meet him at the airport. But Trump was met at the steps by Mohammed bin Salman himself today.
Image source, Getty ImagesTrump and the crown prince walk down the lavender carpet