Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (R) walks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz as they arrive for a ceremony at Prime Minister's House in Islamabad, 16 April 2006. The Saudi Prince Aziz, arrived 15 April, on a two day visit for talks on bilateral relations and defence cooperation.
Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Prince Saud bin Thanyan Al Saud during a visit to the headquarters of the Saudi Comapany for Main Industries Sabek in Riyadh, 22 April 2006. Hu Jintao arrived in Saudi Arabia Saturday on a visit expected to focus on economic and energy cooperation as Beijing looks for oil to fuel its growth and Riyadh boosts ties with Asian powers
Saudi King Abdullah receives Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday April 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia and energy-starved China signed defense, security and trade agreements Saturday on the first day of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit, a trip both sides expect will enhance burgeoning relations
More photos of the Chinese President's visit
#1-2: Polfoto
#1: Saudi King Abdullah, second left, shekes hands with Chainese President Hu Jintao Saturday, April 22, 2006, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia and energy-starved China signed defense, security and trade agreements Saturday on the first day of Hu's visit, a trip both sides expect will enhance burgeoning relations. Saudi Crown Prince Sultan is seen standing at far right.
#2: Saudi King Abdullah, right, meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, Saturday, April 22, 2006, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia and energy-starved China signed defense, security and trade agreements Saturday on the first day of Hu's visit, a trip both sides expect will enhance burgeoning relations.
#3: AP-Saudi Prince Nayef, right, exchanges signed agreements with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing while Saudi King Abdullah and Chinese President Hu Jintao at back left applaud and watched by Saudi Crown Prince Sultan, center, Saturday, April 22, 2006, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A handout picture from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows the Saudi King Abdallah bin-Abdelaziz (C), Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (L), holding a meeting upon the latters arrival to the Kingdom 25 April 2006. Yudhoyono departed today for a 10-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan to drum up investment. Yudyonono was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, Economy Minister Budiono, Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu and Manpower Minister Erman Suparman.
From Profimedia
A picture handout by the Saudi Press Agency 30 April 2006 shows Saudi King Abdullah (R) welcoming Greek President Karolos Papoulias (L) at Riyadh airport 29 April 2006.
Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (L) welcomes United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan before the opening of Gulf Cooperation Council consultative summit in Riyadh 06 May 2006. Leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, are holding its annual consultative summit.
yes i also heard it from the news, i guess its a goodwill gesture from the king, am also wondering why is the president not covering her head my scarf or headdress, isnt it a tradition that woman should be covered in front of men in saudi? I also saw this when the spanish king and queen visited, queen sofia is not covering her head and not even wearing long dress, from previous visit of queen elizabeth II she's wearing a long dress, has the tradition been changed for visiting lady head of state and government. here are some examples:all photo from profimedia:...........1. pres arroyo wearing short dress talking to the governor of riyadh..2. queen sofia wearing short dress on their arrival in saudi..3 and 4. queen elizabeth wearing long dress and headscarf..5. queen margrethe wearing long dress and headscraf.......is wearing headscarf and long dress a protocol?
well, i hope our friends from Saudi/MidEast Islamic states can help...i don't think wearing a long dress and head scarf is a strict part of protocol. it would probably depend on the occasion (gloria's visit was a state visit, not exactly having a religious note to it) and as long as it's not inappropriate. but the others who did cover up and wore a head scarf probably did that in respect to their host country's culture and religion.
In fact I think when the guest cover her hair she just show her recpect to the religion or the cutlure of the country that she is visit , it is nice to do but it is not must .
King warns Saudi media over women RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) -- Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, under pressure from Islamists to curb reforms, has warned local media against showing pictures of Saudi women, local newspapers reported on Tuesday.
Many Saudis have said they hope the king, who came to power last year, will loosen strict political and social mores in the ultra-conservative kingdom which imposes an austere version of Islam called Wahhabism.
Newspapers have broken with tradition and have more frequently begun printing photographs of Saudi women beside stories, usually with hair covered but faces showing, which many Wahhabi Islamists consider morally wrong.......................... http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/...ion=cnn_latest
Saudi Princess Lolwah al-Faisal Al-Saud, co-Chair of the board of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East participates in a press conference with other co-chairs prior to the opening of the three-day annual affair in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt 20 May 2006 during which Arab, Israeli and international political and business leaders are to meet
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (R) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh 21 May 2006. Lavrov began today holding discussions on the Middle East, Iran and Iraq at the start of a four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, the Russian foreign ministry said
King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, left, smiles Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after the King's arival in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Wednesday May 31, 2006. The leaders were to discuss bilateral and regional issues