Saudis hope Joe Biden's visit to Jeddah will show changing face of country

Red Sea port city a microcosm of continuity and change in Saudi society

US President Joe Biden waves from a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP

US President Joe Biden boards a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP

Mr Biden walks to the plane. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed in discussion with Mr Biden during the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit at a hotel in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastal city. AFP

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 meeting in Jeddah. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed attended a traditional summit 'family photo call' in the company of, from left: Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Co-operation Affairs and the Special Representative of the Sultan; Sheikh Mohamed; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi; Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa; US President Joe Biden; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II; Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohamed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, during the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Rashed Al Mansoori / Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials during a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah before the GCC+3 meeting. AFP

US President Joe Biden meets Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, in Jeddah before the beginning of the GCC+3 meeting. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the GCC + 3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrive for the Jeddah summit. SPA

US President Joe Biden participates in a working session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. AP

US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a bilateral meeting with Saudi officials led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman takes part in a working session with US President Joe Biden and his team. AFP

Saudi Arabia's King Salman greets US President Joe Biden at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

King Salman and US President Joe Biden in discussions at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Saudi Arabian officials. AFP

Mr Biden disembarks from Air Force One at King Abdulaziz International Airport, following a flight from Tel Aviv. AFP

US Presidents Joe Biden salutes as he boards Air Force One at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv en route to a meeting with the GCC+3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Israel's President Isaac Herzog, second right, and caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, centre, bid farewell to US President Joe Biden at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

US President Joe Biden meets clergy at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

US President Joe Biden is introduced to local people at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters

US President Joe Biden arrives at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, on the second full day of his Middle East visit. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address the media after their meeting at the Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, the occupied West Bank. AFP

A photo of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is placed on a chair as reporters wait for US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak. She was killed in a raid by Israeli forces in May. The caption reads: 'Shireen Abu Akleh, voice of Palestine'. AP

US President Joe Biden with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a welcome ceremony at the Palestinian Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes US President Joe Biden to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

A Palestinian security officer stands guard near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank before US President Joe Biden’s official visit. AFP

Palestinian and Israeli human rights campaigners lift banners during a rally near Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem as US President Joe Binden visits. AFP

US President Joe Biden greets fans as he attends the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden poses for a picture with US athletes competing in the Maccabiah Games. AFP

People use the lights of their phones during the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, attended by US President Joe Biden. Reuters

US athletes attend the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. AFP

The Maccabiah Games coincided with the US President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. AFP

US President Joe Biden, centre, Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and President Isaac Herzog attend the opening ceremony for the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. Reuters

A Palestinian protester carries a placard during a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah as US President Joe Biden visited Israel. AFP

In Gaza City, Palestinian demonstrators wave their national flag as they gather to protest against the visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel. AFP

A billboard, part of a campaign organised by the Centre for Human Rights B'Tselem, installed before US President Joe Biden's arrival for an official visit in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. PA

US President Joe Biden receives the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour from Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. AP Photo

US President Joe Biden, centre left, and President Isaac Herzog with children after Mr Biden's arrival at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden signs the guest book in the presence of President Isaac Herzog on arriving at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden with President Isaac Herzog and Mrs Michal Herzog in Jerusalem. AFP

US and Saudi Arabian flags in a square in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before US President Joe Biden's visit. AP

US President Joe Biden and caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem. EPA

President Sheikh Mohamed delivers the opening speech during the I2U2 summit, a meeting between the leaders of the UAE, India, Israel and the US. Seen with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid during the I2U2 summit. Photo: Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden and caretaker Iraeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid address a joint press conference. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid during their meeting at a hotel in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden speaks to Holocaust survivors Dr Gita Cycowicz and Rena Quint in the Hall of Remembrance, at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. AP

US President Joe Biden participates in a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. AP

Israel's President Isaac Herzog speaks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US President Joe Biden during their visit to Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Reuters

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, left, US President Joe Biden, second left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and Brig Gen Shawn Harris, defence attache to the US embassy, in front of Israel's Iron Dome defence system during a tour at Ben Gurion Airport. AP

US President Joe Biden waves as he leaves Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on his way to Jerusalem. EPA

US President Joe Biden, centre, stands for the national anthems alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, Israel's President Herzog, third left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, third right, and departing prime minister Naftali Bennett, second right, at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

Caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog welcome US President Joe Biden to Israel as his trip begins. Reuters

As US President Joe Biden's tour of the Middle East continues in Saudi Arabia, locals are hopeful that the visit will lead to great things in the relationship between the two countries.

Mr Biden is expected to touch down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second largest city, on Friday.

The Red Sea port city is a microcosm of the continuity and change in Saudi society: Unesco-recognised historic Jeddah sits comfortably alongside new construction projects designed to attract tourism and business.

But the city has begun to look a bit different in the days leading up to the US leader's visit, during which he is expected to meet King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as attend a major GCC+3 conference.

“The whole of corniche has been blocked off, with police patrolling the area,” said Maymish Amoudi, a Jeddah resident.

Despite the annoyance of increased security, some see the visit is an opportunity to show the strengths of the kingdom to the world.

“The world cannot ignore the kingdom and its outstanding achievements in energy, finance, tech, sustainability or any other field,” said Sultan Al Harbi, a Saudi entrepreneur.

“I am looking forward to the meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Biden after all these years and am very interested to see what the new president has to say now versus all that he's said in the past.”

Ahmed Alayoub, a Saudi multimedia studio owner, said: “This is a great time for President Biden to visit — to see the new kingdom with its great achievements, changes and inspired youth under the leadership of King Salman and our Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

Officials are also looking forward to the visit, with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Education Hamad bin Mohammed saying he hopes for further co-operation with the US in education and scientific research, with increased student exchange and scholarships.

“The Ministry of Education seeks to enhance the benefit of Saudi students by signing memoranda of understanding for scientific and research co-operation between Saudi universities and their American counterparts,” the Saudi Press Agency reported him as saying.

There are currently 20,639 Saudi students and trainees studying in the US and more than 167,729 Saudi students have graduated from US universities since 2005.

The ministry offers 318 scholarships to American students and is currently hosting more than 167 in the country.

“The people are excited, the youth and elders alike,” said Asma Ahmed, a Saudi artist.

“My father, brother and sister all studied in the US. We want the best for our country and working peacefully together is the only way forward. We hope great things come out of Biden's visit.”

Saudi Arabia on Friday opened its airspace to all airlines, which includes Israeli flights flying over its territory, before Mr Biden's visit. The move was welcomed by the White House.

“President Biden welcomes and commends the historic decision by the leadership of Saudi Arabia to open Saudi airspace to all civilian carriers without discrimination, a decision that includes flights to and from Israel,” said US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Princess Reema bint Bandar, the kingdom’s ambassador to Washington, said the visit is “pivotal to deliver peace and prosperity for both of our peoples and the wider world”.

“We must redefine the contours of the next eight decades of this critical alliance,” she said.