Russian President Vladimir Putin and his delegation arrived in Riyadh today for a visit to the Kingdom. He was received by Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh's governor; Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, state minister and national security adviser; Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, governor of Al-Riyadh region; Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Russia, Abdulrahman Al-Ahmed; and Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sergei Kozlov. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the economic and energy sectors. It is Putin’s first visit to Saudi Arabia in 12 years. Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, which will reportedly include joint investment projects and cooperation in the fields of oil and gas. The visit comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with Saudi Arabia blaming Iran for the recent attack on its oil facilities. Putin has called for dialogue to resolve the conflict in Yemen, and has also condemned the attack on the Saudi oil facilities, saying that such actions threaten the stability of the global energy market. The visit is also taking place just days after Turkey launched a military offensive in northeastern Syria, following the decision by the US to withdraw its troops from the area. Reports suggest that Putin is seeking to position Russia as a key mediator in the conflict, by proposing a security zone in northeastern Syria. The visit is part of Putin's Middle East tour, which began with a trip to the UAE, where several agreements were signed, including a $1 billion investment in the oil sector. He is also expected to visit Qatar later this week.