Mr. Trump told reporters earlier this month that he was considering making the visit, noting that traditionally, presidents often make their first foreign trip to the U.S.-allied United Kingdom. A visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2017 also marked the first foreign trip of Mr. Trump's first term.

President Trump’s trade war is strengthening economic ties between Saudi Arabia and China and encouraging Chinese investors to increase their holdings in the kingdom, analysts say. As China and its near neighbours face the imposition of economic tariffs – “the most beautiful word in the world”,