Donald Trump given extremely rare honour as touches down in Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince

Donald Trump was given an extremely rare honour shortly after his arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The US president, 78, kicked off his four-day trip to the Middle East with a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 39, on Tuesday (13 May).

Both leaders signed more than a dozen agreements to increase co-operation between their governments’ militaries, justice departments and cultural institutions, with Prince Mohammed already committing to 600 billion dollars (£450 billion) in new Saudi investment in the US.

“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said.

But before Trump even landed into Saudi, it seems the Prince was adamant on making the American president feel welcome.

Saudi Arabia promised billions of dollars in deals with the United States (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom’s capital.

When Trump touched ground at King Khalid International Airport, however, he was met with a rare handshake from the Crown Prince.

The Times reports that for a visiting head of state to receive such a greeting is seen as a rare honour in the kingdom.

Later, the two leaders retreated to a grand hall at Riyadh airport, where Trump and his administration were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun belts.

Then taking to the stage at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center, Trump said: "Together we have made unprecedented strides and tremendous progress," adding that 'the dawn of the bright new day' awaits the people of the Middle East.

"For the first time in a thousand years the world will look at this region not as a place of turmoil, strife, war and death but as a land of opportunity and hope." he continued.

Trump went on to claim that his administration has launched the 'golden age of America' and, with the help of the people of the Middle East, the 'golden age of Middle East can proceed right alongside us'.

Both leaders signed more than a dozen agreements to increase co-operation between their governments’ militaries, justice departments and cultural institutions (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

"We will work together, we will succeed together, win together and we will always be friends," he says.

Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were present during the Saudi trip, as the Tesla founder said Starlink has been approved for aviation and maritime use in the region

“I think it would be very exciting to have autonomous vehicles here in the kingdom, indeed, if you’re amenable,” Musk said.

During the visit, he also showed off Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots now in development to Trump and Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In the evening, Trump is set to be greeted with an intimate state dinner at Ad-Diriyah, a UNESCO heritage site.