Latest news in Saudi Arabia? September 18th, 2026

The major developments and headlines reported in Saudi Arabia on September 18, 2026:

• Proposed $24 Billion U.S. F-35 Jet Sale: The U.S. State Department notified Congress of an approved potential sale of up to 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, valued at roughly $24.3 billion. If completed, the Kingdom would become the first Arab nation to operate the advanced aircraft. The Saudi Embassy in Washington formally welcomed the move, highlighting it as a significant step forward in long-standing bilateral defense and security cooperation.

  The Indian Express+ 1

• Regional Security and GCC Coordination: High-level defense officials from Saudi Arabia and Qatar met to strengthen bilateral security and military coordination, emphasizing joint readiness and intelligence sharing in light of heightened regional maritime and airspace friction.

• Heightened Air Defenses Against Houthi Projectiles: Air defense units remain on elevated alert following recent cross-border drone and missile launches from Yemen. Religious leaders and imams at the Two Holy Mosques issued statements condemning projectile attempts directed toward southern and western regions of the Kingdom.

• Seasonal Weather Advisory: The National Center for Meteorology published an extended outlook forecasting above-average autumn rainfall across central, western, and southwestern provinces heading into October.