Norway and Saudi Arabia

Norway has had diplomatic representation in Saudi Arabia since 1961.The bilateral relationship has been enhanced by the opening of the Royal Saudi Embassy in Oslo in 2012.

Norway has had diplomatic representation in Saudi Arabia since 1961. Fifteen years later, in 1976, the Norwegian Embassy was established in Jeddah, and moved to Riyadh in 1985. Throughout these years, maintaining good bilateral relations has been a priority in order to continue constructive dialogues in several fields. The bilateral relationship has been enhanced by the opening of the Royal Saudi Embassy in Oslo in 2012.

One such area is the oil and energy sector: Saudi Arabia plays a crucial role in the global oil market. As energy producing countries and world-leading energy exporters, Norway and Saudi Arabia share expertise and experience in the petroleum sector, and increasingly also in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Both countries apply their abundant hydrocarbon resources to the development of social and economic infrastructure.

The two countries also share a fundamental belief in the need for greater global energy security. The view is that, in order to bring about stability, international efforts and compromises are necessary. Saudi Arabia is the most important swing producer in OPEC, and plays a stabilizing role that will help to revitalize the global economy. This role is of the utmost importance to all oil producers, including Norway.

Norway and Saudi Arabia are engaged in constructive dialogue with regard to developments in the Middle East, including with regard to the funding mechanism for the Palestinian Authority, AHLC, which Norway chairs. Norway recognizes Saudi Arabia as the biggest economy in the Arab world, the only Arab member of the G20, and a key member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as a key player both regionally and globally.